Philipp Otto Runge - The Great Morning (detail) - WGA20519

Runge was born in Wolgast, Germany, and showed an early talent for drawing and painting. He studied with the painter Johann David Schubert and later attended the Copenhagen Academy of Fine Arts. Runge is best known for his theory of colour, which he developed in his book 'Farbenkugel'. In this work he proposed a three-dimensional model of colour based on the primary colours red, yellow and blue. He also introduced the concept of complementary colours and the idea that colours could express emotions and moods. Runge's paintings were influenced by Romanticism, a movement that emphasised emotion, individualism and nature. He often painted landscapes and portraits, using vivid colours and bold brushstrokes. Sadly, Runge's career was cut short by his early death at the age of 33. However, his contributions to colour theory have had a lasting influence on art and design.