● One of the first known theories about colour can be found in de Coloribus , a short text written in Greece , during the 4th century BCE , and attributed to Aristotle . Based on his observations of how light changes during the day , the text argues that colours “ emanate from heaven ”, sent by God on celestial rays of light , and exist in a linear spectrum between the light of day ( white ) and the darkness of night ( black ).
Aristotle believed yellow and blue to be the true primary colours , relating them to the sun and the moon . He also professed that four colours ( black , yellow , red , and white ) arose from the four elements : earth , water , air , and fire . Although seemingly odd to our contemporary ears , these ideas made sense at the time : a plant is green above ground and white at its roots - therefore , its colour must come from the sun . Likewise , a parched , wilted plant loses its vivid colours ; thus , water must also imbue colour .
● In 1435 , Leon Battista Alberti wrote de Pictura , introducing the first inklings of colour theory . Aristotle ’ s philosophical connection between the earthly elements and colour remained intact . “ There are only four true colours – as there are four elements – from which more and more other kinds of colours may be thus created . Red is the colour of fire , blue of the air , green of the water , and of the earth grey and ash .”