CHAP. VIII.
Of mending and cleaning pictures anc» d paintings.
SECT. I.
Of mending pi&ures.
WHERE pidtuaes have been torn, c=» parts of them deftroyed, various mi^s- thods have been uled for repairing them; anw<i making good the damaged or defedtive part? •but there is one fimple method by means cf the oil fattened together with the colours in what is called by painters the Imulh-pot, or veflel where they rub off the paint from the pen- cils, and put the fcrapings of the pallet; which employed in the following manner effectually anfwers the end, at leaft equally well with the moll complex and elaborate method.
Where pictures are only cut, or tom, without any lofs of their fubllance, they fhould be laid on a flat even board or table j and the tom or divided parts being carefully laid together with fome of the matter of the fmufh-pot laid, as a cement, in and over the joint, they mull be kept in that fituation till this cement be thoroughly dry j the riling or inequality of the cementing matter with the furface, mull then be taken off neatly by means of a penknife ; and the part afterwards properly coloured to •correfpond with the pidurc.
Where the cloth is worn out in parts, or dellroyed by any accidents, the defective places may be eafily made good in the following manner. Having laid the pifture on a flat board, cut out with a penknife, luch jagged or damaged pieces, as cannot be brought to lie fmooth and even. Then form a piece of canvas bigger than the whole intended to be covered and plaller it over, with the above mentioned fat oil and colours taken from the fmulh- pot, on the outftde of the cloth; and fit it properly as a patch to the place it is to make good; taking care that the margin, or that part which projects on every fide of the hole have good hold of the canvas of the pidture, and be prefled clofe every where to it. Then ilet it remain till it be thoroughly dry j and fill afterwards the inequality, or finking of that part of the picture where the patch lies, with the fame matter from the fmufh-pot; railing itfome- vthat higher than the furface of the picture to allow for the drying; and if it life too high, When dry, take it down with a penknife. After this is perfectly dry alio, the part may be paint- fed according to what the picture requires; and it will be foun.d to be equally found and durable with any other part.
Where a picture is cut or tom into feveral pieces, the parts of it may be joined together and cemented down in the proper places, on a. piece of frefh canvas, by the feme means.