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Nineteenth Century Light and Color Theory: Rainbow Science in the Art of Frederic Edwin Church

The purpose of this study was to investigate the depiction of rainbows in the art of Frederic Church in relation to mid-nineteenth century scientific developments in order to determine Church's reliance on contemporary concerns with light and color. An examination of four Church paintings with rainbows, three oil sketches, and nearly a dozen pencil drawings shows that Church's rainbow art represents a response to mid-century cultural values connecting science and art. Changes within Church's rainbow depictions occurred as the artist explored the visual representations of light, synthesizing the scientific knowledge of light and color available to him, and reconciling that information with the requirements of art.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc500448
Date05 1900
CreatorsUpchurch, Diane M. (Diane Marie)
ContributorsGleeson, Larry A., Jones, Lois Swan
PublisherUniversity of North Texas
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatiii, 136 leaves : ill., Text
RightsPublic, Copyright, Upchurch, Diane M. (Diane Marie), Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

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