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Werner's Nomenclature of Colours: Adapted to Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Anatomy, and the Arts Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars 469 ratings

Originally published in 1814, this remarkable volume features 110 colour swatches paired with poetic descriptions that capture nature's vibrant palette.


In the eighteenth century, German geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner (1750-1817) set out to establish a standard reference guide to colour for use in the general sciences. Decades later, Scottish botanical artist Patrick Syme (1774-1845) extended Werner's work, refining it into a comprehensive catalogue of the most prominent shades and hues found in nature. The result was a timeless compendium of colour that showcases the beauty of nature across the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms.


Each colour swatch in Syme's edition of Werner's Nomenclature of Colours is accompanied by examples found in nature, offering a practical tool for scientists, artists, and explorers alike. Notably, Charles Darwin used this guide during his voyage on the HMS Beagle to accurately describe his observations.


This exquisite collection of colours celebrates the harmony of art and science, capturing the beauty found in the natural world.

Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download

From the brand


From the Publisher

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours;Nature colour swatches;gifts for artists;HMS Beagle;pantone

Werner's Nomenclature of Colours: Adapted to Zoology, Botany, Chemistry
Ernst Haeckel's Art Forms in Nature: A Visual Masterpiece of the Natural World
Anna Atkins' Cyanotypes of British and Foreign Ferns
Oliver Byrne's Elements of Euclid: The First Six Books
Customer Reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars 469
4.7 out of 5 stars 103
3.4 out of 5 stars 8
4.4 out of 5 stars 242
Price $26.99 $31.49 $32.99 $34.99
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Editorial Reviews

Review

""A treatise which ought to be in the hands of every mineralogist, and indeed in the possession of naturalists of every description."" - Inverness Courier, 1822

""I had been struck by the beautiful colour of the sea when seen through the chinks of a straw hat... according to Werner nomenclature 'Indigo with a little Azure blue."" - Charles Darwin, 1832

About the Author

Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749-1817) was a mineralogist and geologist at the mining school in Freiberg, Saxony. In his 1774 book On the External Characteristics of Fossils, he established a classification system to describe the colors of both fossils and minerals. Patrick Syme (1774-1845), an Edinburgh painter and art teacher, reconstructed Werner's colors by consulting actual minerals, paired the hues with examples from plant and animal life, and created the system of color swatches and descriptions that form the basis of this book.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B086VJN8HS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Art Meets Science (April 7, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 7, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 13.7 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 60 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 469 ratings

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Patrick Syme
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
469 global ratings

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Fascinating
4 out of 5 stars
Fascinating
I find it odd that the pages are a pinkish yellow fade as if to replicate an old book. I’m wondering if it affects the representation of the color block’s contained in the description. I would have preferred standard white paper.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2025
    Fascinating little book about colors found in nature, very enjoyable... delivered as promised and in very good condition.
    Thank you!!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2025
    I have this as a gift and they loved it! Very interesting book, especially for the art lover or artist.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
    This book is for anyone who loves antique books, dabbles in the arts or just loves the written word. The use of words to describe colors is magnificent here. It’s expensive, imo, but I even thought of framing at one pages, it’s so beautiful.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Beautiful sepia toned artistic book of color

    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
    This book is for anyone who loves antique books, dabbles in the arts or just loves the written word. The use of words to describe colors is magnificent here. It’s expensive, imo, but I even thought of framing at one pages, it’s so beautiful.
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
    21 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    It contains colors observed in nature. Gives u reference as to where it was observed. +
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
    I find it odd that the pages are a pinkish yellow fade as if to replicate an old book. I’m wondering if it affects the representation of the color block’s contained in the description. I would have preferred standard white paper.
    Customer image
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Fascinating

    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
    I find it odd that the pages are a pinkish yellow fade as if to replicate an old book. I’m wondering if it affects the representation of the color block’s contained in the description. I would have preferred standard white paper.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    34 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
    Even though it was originally published 200 years ago. The organization of colors (and the reasons behind it) is great! I would recommend this book to a variety of readers: casual, arty, coffee table - ers, science - y - everyone. I have given several copies to friends already. It was well packaged, came on time and is like the picture.
    11 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
    Water colour languages for view.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
    The colors are very dull and muted compared to the original… the historical literature is cool to have. Seems like the publisher cut corners on the materials. Also glue somehow made some of the pages stick together throughout along the inner binding. Will be returning. Not worth $25.
    Customer image
    1.0 out of 5 stars
    Colors not accurate, cheaply made. Decoration book.

    Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
    The colors are very dull and muted compared to the original… the historical literature is cool to have. Seems like the publisher cut corners on the materials. Also glue somehow made some of the pages stick together throughout along the inner binding. Will be returning. Not worth $25.
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
    17 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • C.J
    1.0 out of 5 stars Version kindle perdu toute la qualité du livre
    Reviewed in France on April 4, 2023
    La version kindle de ce livre n'a pas de qualité que la version livre
    Report
  • Carole
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and useful
    Reviewed in Canada on December 4, 2024
    Colour book is so interesting and useful for all things Art.
  • E. Allsop
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book. Really fascinating.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2025
    Great little book if you are interested in how colours come about and are associated historically.
  • FloreS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Prezzo ok
    Reviewed in Italy on July 8, 2020
    Ho scoperto poco dopo che da qualche parte sul web si poteva trovare anche gratuitamente. Però la spesa era ridotta quindi va bene. Consigliato per lavoro.
  • Paula Clímaco
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quality and rapidity
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2024
    To improve scientific ilustration

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