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Updated: May 25, 2026
07:05
Applying Hyperspectral Reflectance Imaging to Investigate the Palettes and the Techniques of Painters
Published on: June 18, 2021
A three-dimensional color space from the 13th century
Hannah E Smithson1, Greti Dinkova-Bruun, Giles E M Gasper
1Institute of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Durham University, Durham DH1 3HP, UK. hannah.smithson@psy.ox.ac.uk
Summary
This commentary explores Robert Grosseteste
Area of Science:
- Medieval philosophy
- History of science
- Color theory
Background:
- Robert Grosseteste's early 13th-century treatise, De colore.
- Linguistic combinatorial approach to color.
Observation:
- Grosseteste's color space is explicitly three-dimensional.
- Analysis contrasts with previous interpretations.
Findings:
- Proposes accurate translations of key terms in De colore.
- Contextualizes Grosseteste's work within 13th-century thought and modern color spaces.
Implications:
- Offers a novel understanding of Grosseteste's scientific contributions.
- Highlights the dimensionality of medieval color theory.
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