Theory of Colours
As an art scholar, he translated Goethe's "Zur Farbenlehre" (Theory of Colours, 1840). He edited with extensive and valuable notes the 'Handbuch der Geschichte der Malerei" (Handbook of the History of Painting) "by Franz Kugler, which in its first English version was translated by 'A Lady', Mrs. Margaret Hutton. These publications and Eastlake's reputation as an artist led to his nomination in 1841 to become secretary of the Fine Arts Commission, the body in charge of government art patronage. He set up home in Fitzroy Square.