109 - A Way to Extract Lake from Poppies, Blue
Irises, Red Roses, Violet Roses, and From All Kinds of Green Plants
Have whatever amount of flower petals you want, in which there is colour, but keep each colour separate. You can use pretty green plants as well, also by themselves. Put these materials into strong lye made of soda and lime as described above for the broom flowers lake recipe [chapter 108]. Extract the dye, and give it alum, and fresh water making [the pigment] settle in the bottom. Do this, in all and for all, as was described in the broom flower recipe.
With more fresh water wash away all the saltiness and alum, and finally dry it on pieces of linen cloth. In this way realize the lake, and true colour, and tincture from every flower, and plant. For painters it will be a thing of grace and beauty, and without a doubt worthy of high regard.