SECTION IV.
Of the nature and preparation of par-ticular colours.
CLASS I. Of red colours.
Of vermilion.
Vermilion is a bright fcarlet pigment, formed of common fulphur and quickfilver, by a chemical procefs : it is one of the moft ufeful colours in every kind of paint-ing; except enamel or glafs; as it is of mode-rate price, fpends to great advantage in any kind of work, and {lands or holds its colour extremely well. It may be prepared in great perfection by the following procefs.
“ Take of quickfilver eighteen pounds, of flowfrs of fulphur fix pounds: melt the ful- *f phur in an earthen pot; and pour in the ** quickfilver gradually, being alfo gently “ warmed; and ftir them well together, with the fmall end of a tobacco-pipe : but, if <£ from the effervefcence, on adding the lat- ter quantities of the quickfilver, they take “ fire, extinguish it by throwing a wet cloth *e (which fhould be had ready) over the vef*
“ fel.
[43] “ fcl. When the mafs is cold, powder it, lb <x that the feveral parts may be well mixed to- tc gether ; but it is not neceflary to reduce it “ by nicer levigation, to an impalpable ftate : having then prepared an oblong glafs body,
<c or fublimer, by coating it well with fire-lute “ over the whole furface of the glafs, and work* “ ing a proper rim of the fame round it, by “ which it may be hung in the furnace in fuch. “ a manner that one half of it may be expofed “ to the fire in the cavity of it, fix it in a pro- “ per furnace j and let the powdered mals be <c put into it, fo as to nearly fill the part that ** is within the furnace: and, a piece of broken <{ tile being laid over the mouth of the glafs,
“ fublime then the contents, with as ftrong a " heat as may be ufed without blowing, the ** fumes of the vermilion out of the mouth of 1 “ the fublimer. When the fublimation is over,
“ which may be perceived by the abatement “ of the heat towards the top of the body, ** difcontinue the fire; and, when the body is “ cold, take it out of the furnace; and break “ it: and, having collected all the parts of the ** fublimed cake, feparating from them any “ drofs that may have been left at the bottom “ of the body, as alfo any lighter fubftance “ than may'have formed in the neck, and ap- “ pears to be diflimilar to the reft, levigate the more perfedt part; and, when reduced to a “ fine powder, it will be vermilion proper for ** ufe.
Where
44 OF THE SUBSTANCES
Where great quantities of vermilion are manufactured, it is a practice, for the fake of cheapnefs, and to fave the labour of coating, With fo much care, glafs fublimers with lute, to have earthen ones made of the fame fort of clay as that employed for long necks. When this is done, thefe fublimers fhould be of a fpheroidal figure, and about an inch lefs in their leafl diameter than the ring of the furnace in which they are to be hung; they muflr alfb have a rim worked at about two thirds of this height, of the fame matter they are made of, by which they may hang in the iron ring, as the glafs fublimers, by means of the rim of lute. It is much the beft way, however, to give them a coat of good common loom, fand and horfe dung.
The perfection of vermilion is to be of a very bright colour, and of a great degree of fineneis, and that is moil efteemed, which moft inclines to a crimfon hue: thefe appearances, befides the rendering it more advantageous for the purpofes to which it is employed in painting, are the readieft proofs of its being unfophifticate.
Vermilion, when pure, will Hand for any length of time, whatever vehicle it be ufed with j and may, therefore, be depended upon, for carnations, or the nic,eft purpofes.
It is very ufual, I might almoft fay general, for dealers to fophifticate vermilion with red lead : which renders it very liable to change, and lofe its brightnefs j as the red lead is apt to pirn black, whether ufed with oil, or water.
This
This adulteration, when made in a greater degree, may be perceived by the difference in colour betwixt the fophiflicated and pure; for the red lead, being considerably more of the «orange hue than die vermilion, renders it left crimfon. But to dete& the fraud of mixing red lead with the vermilion with certainty, both with refpedt to the general fad:, and die proportion, the following means may be ufed.
“ Take a fmall, but known quantity of the “ vermilion fufpeded to be adulterated, and “ put it into a crucible; having firft mixt “ with it about the lame quantity, in bulk, of “ charcoal duff: put the crucible into a com- “ mon fire, having firft covered it with a Idler “ crucible inverted into it; and give a heat fuf- , “ ficient to fufe lead j when the crucible, be- “ ing taken out of the fire, fliould be well “ fliaken, by linking it againft the ground. If “ the fufpeded adulteration have been pradifed, “ the lead will be found reduced to its metal- “ line ftate, in the bottom of the crucible; and* “ being weighed, and compared with die “ quantity of cinnabar that was put into, die “ crucible, the proportion of the adulteration “ may be thence certainly known: but, if no “ lead be found in the crucible, it may be fafely “ inferred, that no red lead had been commixt “ with the cinnabar.”
It is very neceflary, diat vermilion Ihould be extremely well levigated : as it both contributes to its brightnefs and fpending further in the work: and this can Scarcely be effeduated 1 by
by mills without the fubfequent ufe of the mullat and ftone; though it has been ufual for preparers to pafs it off as it comes out of the mill; but whoever would have vermilion in perfection, efpeci- ally for painting carnations or mixing with white, fhould improve its finenefs by wafhing over.
Of native cinnabar.
Native cinnabar is a pigment compounded of quickfilver and fulphur; and therefore differs in nothing from vermilion but in the manner of its production, and the being fometimes df a more crimfon colour. It is found naturally formed in the earth in many places} but feldom fo pure as to be fit for the ufes of painting, at leaft without being purified by fiiblimation} which operation, being probably not well known to thole who have any concern in the finding it, has not been hitherto praCtifed, as far as appears. On this account native cinnabar has as yet been fcarce and dear: a great part of what has been fold as fuch, having been factitious: but the crimfon colour of fbme quantities, and the miftaken notion that it would Hand better than vermilion, heeaufe it was a natural production,have made it to be coveted by painters who are curious in colours. It i9 however never worth their while to be folli- citous about it, as it feldom excels the beft vermilion in brightnefs; and as that may be bkewife rendered equally crimfon, if the proportion of fulphur be made only as one to fix
or
USED IN PAINTING. 47 orfeven of the quickfilver : and as, if there re'ally was any luperiority, with regard to Handing, in the native cinnabar over the o- ther, they never could be certain of having k gehuine.
When native cinnabar isuled as a colour, there is no other preparation neceflary than a careful levigation j which may be befl performed, . with water, on the Hone: but whoever would have , it in the moH perfect Hate mull fuperadd walhing over to the grinding. It has been ufual to walh this colour as well as vermilion in urine, juice of lemon, 'and other fluid fubflancesj but there is not the leaH alteration to be made in it, by any fuch means, if it be pure, for the reafon before given with refpeft to vermilion.
Of red lead or minium.
Red lead is lead calcined, till it acquire a proper degree of colour, by expofing it with a large furface to the fire.
The bright orange colour of red lead might .render it valuable in painting, if it would Hand with certainty in either oil or water: but it is fo fubjeft to turn black when ufed with oil, and even fometimes with water, that it is by no means fit to be trailed either alone or mixed with any other colours where the Handing well is of confequence; except in hard varnilhes, indeed, which, locking up the pigments from the air and moiflure, renders their colour durable in
almoft
4$ ÖF THE'fiüBST ANCES almoft all inftances. For this rcafon réd lead is fèldooi now employed in oil, nor veiy frequently in watery but for very grofs purpofes, or io make a ground for vermilion; which being flightly fpread upon it will go much- farther than on any other ground : but even this is s not advifable where it is defired the colour fhould ftand for a long time.
The goodnefs of red lead may be diftin- guHhed by the brightnefs of its colour ; for whatever it is adulterated with will of courfe diminish it :.and it is on this account, not fb liable to be fophifticated, as white lead, ver-* milion, and fome other pigments. The SM dulteration, however, where any is fufpedl- ed, may be eafily deteded by the following means.
“ Put an ounce of what is fulpeded into a
crucible, with an equal bulk of charcoal “ duft; mixing them well together. Place “ the crucible in a common fire fufficiently “ hot to melt lead ; covering it with another “ fmaller crucible inverted into it. Continue ee it in the fire for fome time ; and then take *f it out ; and ftrike it againft the ground« “ The red lead will then be reduced to its me- “ tallic ftate; and, being poured out, and freed “ from the charcoal duft, may be weighed “ when cold and will fhew by its déficience ** the proportion of adulterating matter«”
Oj
USED IN PAINTING. 49
' Of fiarlet oker.
Scarlet oker, is the ochrous earth, or rather iron, which is the bafis of green vitriol, ieparated from the acid of the vitriol, by calcination. It is of a broken orange lcarlet colour: but, for its great certainty of landing, in which it equals any of the native okers, and its extreme great ftrength and warmth either as a ground or in the (hades of carnations, it is neverthelefs very valuable. It may be ufed as a colour in any kind of painting; (but in enamel it turns to a tran- (parent yellow like brown pink, if the flux be ftrong): and is eafily prepared in the following manner.
. “ Take, of green vitriol or copperas, any “ quantity ; and being put into a crucible, of “ which it will fill two thirds, fet it on a “ common fire to boil, (taking care that it do “ not boil over,) till the matter be nearly “ dry ; when it will be greatly diminifhed. “ Fill then the crucible to the fame height a- “ gain, and repeat this, till the crucible be “ filled with dry matter. Take it then from “ this fire, and put it into the wind-furnace j “ or, if the quantity be fmall, it may be con- “ tinued in the fame fire, the coals being “ heaped up round it; and let the contents be “ calcined there till they become of a red co- <; lour when cold j which muft be examined “ by taking a little of > the matter out of the “ middle, and fuffering it to cool: for (o " long as it remains hot the red colour wijl E “ not
50 OP THE SUBSTANCES ** not appear, though it be fufficiently calcined. “ When duly calcined take the oker out of “ the crucible while hot, and put it into wa- “ ter, in which the parts of the broken cru- ** cible may be foaked likewife to obtain more “ eafily what (hall adhere to them; and ftir “ the oker well about in the water, that all “ the remaining vitriol may be melted out of “ it. Let it then fettle, and when the water ** appears clear, pour* it off, and add a frefh ** quantity j taking out all the broken pieces " of the crucible j and proceed as before j ** repeating feveral times this treatment with “ frefh quantities of water. Then purify the “ oker from any remaining foulnefs by wafh- ** ing over} and, having brought it to a pro- *c per ftate of drynefs, by draining off the fluid “ by a filter, in doing which the paper ufed
muft be covered with a linnen cloth, lay “ it to dry on boards.” •
Common Indian- red.
The common Indian red, meant here, is of an hue verging to the fcarlet: but the true Indian red, (of which I fhall fpeak below) is greatly inclining to the purple : among which colours' k may be well clafied.
This common kind has been introduced as a counterfeit or fubftitute for the real kind brought from the Eaft-Indies : and has, by its cheap- nefs and ferving equally well for common pur- pofes, prevented that from being brought over i for
USED IN PAINTING. ft for a long time; So that the true teint of the Original kind, being in fome meafure forgotten, this has been gradually made to vary from it, till it is in fad a quite different colour. But though the common Indian red will not an- fwer the ends of the true kind, it is yet a very ufeful colour for many other purpofes : and is, therefore* on account of its (landing and ■Warm though not bright colour, much ufed as well in finer as coarfer paintings in oil. As it is made of the caput mortuum of vitriol niter the diftillation of aqua fortis and oil of Vitriol* it is afforded at a very moderate price* and may be thus managed.
“ Take, of the caput mortuum or oker left in the iron pots after the diftillation of aqua fortis from nitre and vitriol, two parts, and of ‘‘ the caput mortuum or colcothar left in the “ long necks after the diftillation of oil of vi- u trial one part; break the lumps fourid among “ them and put them into tubs with a good h quantity of water j and, having let them “ ftand for a day or two, frequently ftirring them well about* lade off as much water as ‘‘ can be got clear from them'* and add a frefti *' quantity} repeating the fame treatment till u all the falts be Wafhed out, and the water *' cdme off nearly infipid. The red powder “ which remains mull then be walhed over, and 41 being freed from the water laid out to dry»*
“ When this is defigned for nicer purpofes*
“ it ftiould be walhed over again in balons, u the graft manner of lading it out of one tub £ a “ into
52 OF THE SUBSTANCES “ into another not fitting it always completely “ to fuch ends.”
Of Venetian red.
Venetian red is a native red oker, rather inclining to the fcarlet than the crimfon hue : it is not far different from the common Indian red, but fouler j and,may, therefore, be eafily prepared from mixing common red oker with the colcothar or caput mortuum taken out of the aqua fortis pots, and wafhed over.
As it is generally ufed by houfe-painters in imitations of mahogony, it requires no o- ther preparation than to be well ground with the oil with which it is ufed; but when, as is fometimes the cafe, it is ufed in miniature painting, it fhould be carefully wafhed over.
' Spanijh brown.
Spanifh brown, or brown red, is a native earth, found in the ftate, and of the colour in whic^it is ufed: it is nearly of the fame colour with the Venetian red, but fouler. It was probably from its name brought originally from abroad, and was then moft likely of a finer kind: but what is now ufed is the produce of our own country, being dug up in feveral parts of England. -
It is ufed for grounds and primings for coarfe work by houfe-painters j and by colourmen in the preparation of the cloths for pictures and other
coarfe
'USED IN PAINTING. 53 coarfe work: but feldom in any more delicate paintings. It therefore needs no other preparation than freeing it well from ftones and filth: tho’ if any who may be defirous to ufe it for nicer purpofes, want to have it in a more per- fe<ft date, they may make it equal, in finenefs and purity to any other pigments whatever, by wafhing over: and, if they can render it tileful to them with regard to the colour, they may depend on its Handing equally with any other pigment whatever; being a native ochrous earth, of which kind none are ever known to fail, whether they be ufed of their natural teint, or changed by calcination.
Of oalcined or burnt terra de Siena. \
The terra de Siena is a native oker brought hither from Italy in the Hate it is naturally found: it is yellow originally; (of its qualities in which ftate we (hall treat in its proper place below j) but when moderately calcined, it becomes an orange red, though not very bright. Being, however, femi-tranfparent in oil, it is of great ufe where a ftrong brown red lliade is wanted; as in the face in portrail painting, and on many other occafioris.
The calcination may be performed by putting lumps of it, either in a crucible, or naked, in a common fire: and continuing it there, till the colour be changed-from yellow'to red ifji the proportion wanted ; after which,, it muft be well levigated and wafhed over.
E3 With
54 ©F THE SUBSTANCES With refpect to the goodnefs of terra de Siena, we haye but one kind brought here : and whoever can obtain it crude, ip die unburnt lumps, may be certain it is ppt adub terated.
Of carmine.
Carmine is a bright crimfon colour, and is formed of the tinging fubftance of cochineal brighted with aqua fortis, by a procefs fimilar to that ufed for dying fcarlet in grain. It i? of great^advantage in painting as well in water as yarnifh, both op account of its beauty and ftanding well; but it will not mix with oi| fo as to haye the due effect in that kind of painting.
' The preparation of this colour in perfection i&kept afperet in France, where the bell is prepared : for though fome is piade here of good pue and brightneis before it be uled, yet it flips on its commixture with white j and turns purple even with the fweat of the fkin, if rubbed pn die hands or face. The fuperiprity of the french carmine, as well as of the fcarletdye,has been attributed to fome qualities ip the air and water of France; but nothing is piore abfurd than this fuppofition, as the air has very litde concern in the production of carmine; apd the qualities of the water if different might be artificially changed. But the difference itfelf betwixt the Englifh and French carmine, which does not lie in die beauty of the co-
USED IN PAINTING. 55 lour, but in its durablenefs and ixxt nature, clearly evinces a diverfity in the preparation ; and leaves no room to doubt, but that the car« -mine might be equally well made in this country, if we were thoroughly matters of the art j and a confiderable faving thence gained to the public j as at prelent we buy of France the far greateft part of what is confumed; which is more than can be ealily imagined, till we recollect, how frequent the ule of red is grown a- xnong the Englilh lathes; and that this is al- moft the only fubttance ufed in this country as a red paint for living faces.
The compilers of the new French Cyclopedia have given two or three old recipes for the preparation of this colour} and afterwards recommended another, as preferable to them taken from Kunckel; which on examination is only a procefs for making bad lake of fear- let rags : but rather than to infert fuch inper- fedt inftruCtions for the making an article of great confequence, as may delude thofe, who are earneft in their perfuit of this art into a fruitlefs expence of time and money, I chufe to be filent, and acknowledge my own ignorance in this particular, inftead of leading them into an error by groundlels pretenfions to the contrary.
Of lake.
Lake is a white earthy body, as fcuttle-filh- bone, the bafisof alum, or chalk, tinged with
E 4 fomc
\
fome crimfon vegetable dye, fuch as is obtained from cochineel, or Brafil wood diffolved or taken up by means of fome alkaline fait, and precipitated on the earth by the addition of fome acid.
Lake is ufed in all kinds of painting (except enamel:) but particularly in oil; where it fup- plies the place of carmine, which does not at all agree with that vehicle. It is valuable both, for its brightnefs' and crimfon teint; which make it ufeful for carnations to the portrait painters • for Ikies to the landlkip or fhip painters ; and for flowers to thofe who paint ftill life. Its tranfparency in oil renders it alfo of great fervice in glazing, as it is called, over vermilion 5 and in painting fear let draperies, and the red parts of the lips : and its acquiring a dark hue, by this tranfparency, when ufed without the addition of any opake pigment, gives it an unrivalled excellence in the (hades of red draperies, or other fimilar caies. Notwithftanding thefe meritorious qualities, lake is not at preferit uni- verfally approved : nor without reafon ; for there is a defedt, which, makes it to be frequently rejected where its ufe can be avoided. This defedt is the uncertainty of its Handing, when prepared in that manner which molt conduces to its perfection in other refpedtsl For though fome parcels will hold their colour intirely well, yet others prepared in the lame manner, as far as art can allure it, will fly in a degree that makes the ufe of it deftrudtive tQ any painting ; and if this defect be effectually remedied, as it may be by fecuring the tinging particles by gums, from all attacks of the air 5 yet that is generally at the expence of the brightnels and transparency: the earth, which is the bafis of the pigment, being locked up by the gums, and rendered incapable of being combined intimately with, or imbibing the oil. Befides the perfections of lake which it may have in common with other colours, there is ye$ another that relates only to itfelf, which is the inclining to the fcarlet nue that makes it more valuable for almoft all thepiirpofes to which it is applied: and where this quality joined to thq others happen to be found in it, there is fcarcely any limits to be let to its value with eminent painters of any kind : as was fhewn in the inftance of a parcel made by an unknown perfon, fup^ poled to be a member of the Royal Society, and vended by one Stbcks, then a colourman in Newgate-Street, which was afterwards fol4 by fome of thofe who purchafed it of him at two guineas per ounce.
Lake was moft probably firft made from the colour found in the grains of the Hick-lac, from whence it feems to have taken its name: but it may be made from a great variety of fubftances which afford a crimfon tinge j tho’ at prefent it is feldom prepared from any other than cochineel, fcarlet rags, and Bralil wood.
The belt of what is commonly fold is made from the colour extracted from fcarlet rags and depolited on the cuttle-bone, which may be dope in the following manner.
" Take
58 OF THE SUBSTANCES “ Take a pound of the beft pearl-afhes, 44 and, having diflolved them in two quarts 44 of water, purify them by filtering through 44 paper. Add then to this folution two more 44 quarts of water, and having put in a pound 44 of fcarlet fhreds, procured of the tailors, 44 (for they muft be intirely clean) boil them 44 in the pewter boiler defcribed p. 244UI the 44 fhreds appear to have wholly loft their fcar- 44 let colour. Take them out of the folution 44 and prefs them well; dipping them after in 44 water and prefiing them again, that all the 44 fluid they had imbibed may be got from 44 them, which muft be put back. to the reft. 44 Take then another pound of the fcarlet 44 fhreds, and repeat the like treatment of diem 44 in the fame folution j as alfo a third and 44 fourth pound. While this is doing diflblve 44 a pound and half of cutde-fifh in a pound 44 or ftrong aqua fords in a glafs receiver, add- 44 ing more of the bone, if it appear to pro- 44 duce any ebullition in die aqua fords : and, 44 having ftrained off this fbludon through flan- 44 nel, pour it into the other by degrees: ob- 44 ferving whether it produce any effervefcence 44 on putting an the laft quantity: which, if it 44 do, in any great degree, more of the cutde- 44 fifh-bone muft be diflolved in aqua fords ; 44 and the folution very gradually added till no 44 ebullition appear to be railed by it in die 44 mixture. 11 this be properly managed the 44 fluid will foon become clear and colourlds, t* and die tinging particles extra&ed from the
“ fhreds
USED IN PAINTING, 59 ihreds together with the cuttfe-fiih-bonej M will fublide to the bottom, and form a. criin- ft. fbn fediment; which is the lake. The wa» ft ter muft then be poured off; and two gal- Ions of hard fpring water muff be . put .to “ the lake, and well ffirred about to tjanp “ them : which, being likewife poured ofly “ after the lake has again fettled to the “ bottom, muft be replaced by another two “ gallons j and the fame method muff Be re* peated four CM* five times: but if hard water ‘ cannot be procured, or the lake appear too H purple, half an ounce of alum, fhould be “ added to each quantity of water before k ft be ufed. When the lake is thus fufficiently “ freed from the falts, it muft have the water “ drained from it in a filter covered with a linn •“ nen cloth, which has been fb worn. a$ to “ have no knap or down remaining on its fiir- “ face. After the lake has drained to a pro?
per drynefs, it muff be dropped, on clean “ boards, by means of fticks of elder, mounr “ tain-afh, or other hollow wood, cut into the “ form of pens; and fuffered to dry: when ** the drops will appear in the form of little “ cones or pyramids.”
If tins lake be of a deeper colour than be defired, the proportion of fcarlet fhreds may be diminished: or if it be wanted yet deeper, they niay be increased.
This lake, when the procefs fucceeds well, will be very bright: and will ftand equally to any whatever: f)ut it is not fo tranfbarent and ; ’ '
60 OF, THE SUBSTANCES
fit for glazing as that where earth of alum is the bans.
Lake may be prepared from cochineel in the following manner.
“ Take two ounces of cochineel, and infofo ** it in a gallon of ftale but very clean urine w for feveral days. Take alfo half an ounce of ** the beft annatto and diflolve it in a folution u of two ounces of pearl-allies in a pint of wa- **' tef;. filter both the fblutions and mix them. ** Make then a folution of cuttle-filh-bone as w in die above procefs; and to a pint of it add" two ounces of alum diflolved in half a pint of «*. Water. Put this mixture gradually to that ** of the urine and pearl-afhes, as long as any «* ebullition appear to arife; and proceed as to ** 'the reft according to directions of the above “ procefs.*
This lake will be very fine if luckily managed, and will (land extremely well: it wilf alfo be very fcarlet if the cochineal and annat- to be good.
Preparation of beautiful lake from Brazil wood*
Take of Brazil wood (not coloured in the grinding by the addition of pearl-afhes) “ three pounds, and boil it an hour in a folu- v don of three pounds of common fait in “ three gallons of water: and then filter the ** fluid through paper while hot; prepare then “ a folution of five pounds of alum in three “ gallons of water j which add to the fil--
“ tered
cc
JCC
USED IN PAINTING. 6I
tered folution of common lalt tinged with the colour. Make alio a folution of three pounds of the bed: pearl-afhes in a gallon And half of water, and purify it by filtering :
put this to the other gradually, till the whole o£ the colour appear to be precipitated, and. leave the fluid clear and colourlefs : but, if any appearance of purple be feen, add a Jfrefh quantity of the folution of alum by degrees till a fcarlet hue be produced. The proportion of alum mud however in this cafe be nicely adjuded: fora finall excels
will caufe part of the tinging matter to be difiblved again; which will appear by the fluids being coloured: and,. in fuch cafe, a ballance mud again be made, by the addi-
tion of a fmall quantity of the folution of . pearl-alhes. When the fluid is thus ren-dered clear of colour, and the fediment, be-ing fubfided, appears of a crimfon teint
tending to fcarlet, the directions in the fird procefs mud be followed in every point” This lake cannot be confided in for either Painting in oil or water; but in varnifh, or
for any other purpofe, where it is defended from air, it is fuperior to any other whatever, on account of its great brightnefs and tran-fparency.
It may be rendered fafe, however, with re- fpeCt to danding, if half a pound of feed lac be added to the folution of pearl-alhes; and diflblved in it before its purification by the filter: but, in this cafe, two pounds of the wood,
and
(C
&2 Of Tttt SUBSTANCES
and a proportionable quantity of die commorl fait and water, mull be uled in the coloured! folution. This will produce a lake that wfll Hand well in either oil of water j and will lometimes be extremely beautiful; but it is not lb tranlparent in oii as without the feed« lac.
The lake with Bfalil wood may be made# allb, with the addition of half an ounce of an- riatto to each pound of the wood: which will render it much more lcarlet where it is fo wanted. But the annatto mud be diffolved in the folution of pearl-alhes j and not in that of the common lalt along with Wood*
^The goodnefs of lake cannot be politivety known but by the actual trial of it $ which* with refpedl to its Handing, requires fome time; but its other qualities may be more' ealily judged of.
With relpedt to the brightnefs, its merit may be ealily proved by grinding a little of it, on a pallet or done, with white lead and oil > where it may either be judged of by the memory of thofe who are very converfant in the' ufe of it, or by comparing it with a fample of any other. In relation to the tranfparenCy, it is alfo ealy to judge of it, by grinding a little, ini die fame manner, with oil only; where a mud-* dinefs will be perceived, if the lake be in the lead opake : or a little of it may be put, in this date, on the glafs of a window; where its thicknefs or clearnefs will of courfe be apparent' to the minuted degree. This indeed is the
USED IN PAINTING. 63 only method ufed in general by colourmen for deciding on all the qualities of lake ; but it is very inconclufive with regard to any but tran- fparency. In refpeft to the ftanding of lake, it is much more nice and difficult to determine: and indeed there canfcarcely be any certainty about it but by actual experience. The colourmen having put a fmall quantity of any which they are defirous to try on a window, in the manner juft before mentioned, let it ftand there for lome time, to fee if the colour fly : and other perions think they have a more expeditious and certain though lefs known method, by tryingit with thejuice of lemon: which, if the juice turn the lake to an orange colour, or make any other change in it, gives a proof as they conclude of the badnefs, or of the contrary if no alteration be produced: but neither of thefe methods are infallible •, for it is practicable to prepare lake, which will undergo both thefe tefts, and yet not ftand well when ufed in a picture. Though the ftanding the juice of lemon is fome prefumption, that the lake will hold its colour; and the being altered by it is a pretty certain proof of the contrary.
There is another defeat, with refpedt to fome purpofes; which is apt to be found in lake: it is the fatning in oil. This can only be known, by grinding fome of it in the oil, and keeping it the proper time in bladders. When, if it be found to have this fault, it may be deemed utterly unfit for the ufe of colourmen. If, never-
thelefs
64 OF THE SUB.STANCES thelefsithave no other bad qualities, it is not at all the worfe for this, with regard to thofe who have no occafion to keep colours in, bladders, but mix them as wanted on the pallet*
There is another land of lake brought from China which is extremely beautiful; but as it will not mix well with either water or oil, tho’ it diflolves intirely in fpirit of wine, it is not of any ufe in our kinds of painting hitherto. This lake has, by fome unaccountable blunder, got the name of fafflower among thofe who paint in water: and has, indeed, been fo called in more than one pamphlet written on the ufe of water colours. But there is not the leaft affinity betwixt it and the real fafflower; which is the dried flowers of the carthamus orbaftard faffion, and is a well known fubftance j as being a common dying drug.
Of rofe lake, commonly rofe pink.
Rofe pink is a lake like the former; except, that the earth or bafls of the pigment is principally chalk; and the tinging fubftance extracted from Bralil or Campeachy (commonly called Peachy) wood.
As it never can be expeCted to ftand, when ufed with oil or water, it is feldom employed for any purpofes but th.e coarfe work of houfe painters, or for paper hangings; unlefs fome- times with varnifh, where it is fecured from flying, and, when beautiful, may be fubftituted for lake.
USED IN PAINTING. 65
Rofe pink may be prepared in the following manner.
“ Take Brazil wood fix pounds, or three ** pounds of Brazil and three of Peachy wood. “ Boil them an hour with three gallons of wa- ** ter, in which a quarter of a pound of alum is difiblved. Purify then the fluid by {training thro’ flannel ; and put back the wood into the , “ boiler with the lame quantity of alum, and “ proceed as before; repeating this a third ** time. Mix then thé three quantities of tinc- c* ture together; and evaporate them till only “ two quarts of fluid,remain; which evapora- “ tion muft be performed firft in the pewter ** boiler and afterwards in the balneo mariae “ defcribed p. 27. Prepare in the mean time “ eight pounds of chalk by wafhing over; a f< pound of alum, being put into the water <c ufed for that purpofe, which after the chalk ** is walhed muft be poured off and fupplied ** by a frefh quantity till the chalk be freed ** from the fait formed by the alum: after <e which it muft be dried to the confiftence of ftiff clay. The chalk, and tinélure as a- c‘ bove prepared, muft be then well mixed to- ** gether by grinding; and afterwards laid out to dry where neither the fun or cold air can c‘ reach it: though if it can be conveniently c* done, a gentle heat may be ufed.”
The goodnefs of rofe pink lies chiefly in the brightnefs of the colour and the finenefs of its fubftance ; which laft quality depends on the wafhing well the chalk. The more
F the
66 OF THE SUBSTANCES the hue of rofe pink verges on the true erimfon, that is to fay, the lefs purple it is, the greater its value.’-
Red oker.
- Red oker is a native earth: but what is commonly ufed is made red by calcination; being when dug out of the earth yellow, and the fame with the yellow oker commonly ufed. It is chiefly brought from Oxfordfhire, where it is found in great plenty, and burnt in large ovens. The quality it has, in common with all other okers, of (landing infallibly, renders it very ufeful, as well in the more delicate as coarfer paintings in oil, notwith-r (landing it is not bright: but in order to its being fit for nicer purpofes, it ought to be wafhed over ; though for others, it may be ufed in the date in which it is found in the (hops.
The cheapnefs of red oker renders it fcarcely worth while to adulterate it: but, either from (uch practices, or from the difference of their natural (late, fbme parcels are greatly better than others. The marks of goodnefs are brightnefs of colour; and the being of a crumbly chalky texture, (hewing no gritty roughr nefs when rubbed betwixt the fingers.