With property items (adjectives) in attributive position, the degree word precedes it; with property items that are used predicatively, the degree word follows (as with verbs).
The relative frequency results from the fact that degree words appear more often with predicative than with attributive property items (rough impression).
Source: Schumann 1783: 132
Source: van Dyk ca. 1765: 22
Source: Weygandt 1798: 105