See more objects with the tag triangles, optical effect, spectrum.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

2018

2025

  • You found it!

Book, Oculus artificialis teledioptricus sive telescopium (The Eye Also of a Telescope or an Artificial Teledioptricus)

This is a Book. It was printed by Johannis Ernesti Adelbulneri.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as part of Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

It is dated 1702. Its medium is letterpress and engraving on paper.

Predating Newton’s Opticks by two years, Johann Zahn’s system was one of the last extending from the classical tradition of color theory established by Aristotle. Zahn’s color diagram takes the shape of an equilateral triangle, with black and white at opposite ends of the base and yellow, red, and blue in between. Lines connect colors on the opposite sides of the triangle, creating diamonds of mixed colors.

It is credited Gift of Bern Dibner, Smithsonian Libraries, QC380 .Z19.

Its dimensions are

H x W (open): 35 × 46 cm (13 3/4 × 18 1/8 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/1108749941/ |title=Book, Oculus artificialis teledioptricus sive telescopium (The Eye Also of a Telescope or an Artificial Teledioptricus) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=20 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>