SECTION VI.
Of the compofition of colouring fiances y together with the frofieT fluxesy in order to the painting with all the variety of colours m enasnM.
Compofition for the fcarkt or trimfim red, im-properly celled purple of gold;i.
“ r| ' AKE of the fluxes, N° i, or or Xi Venetian glafs fix parts, and of the ** calx calfii or precipitate of gold by tin as di“ redled p. 255 one part. Mix them well to“ gather; and paint with them.”
This will produce a very fine fcarlet, or crimfon colour, according to the tewit of the precipitate of gold Hied : for it may be prepared very fcarlet by the means above directed, as 1 have more than once feen; though as it is commonly prepared, a crimfon only is produced i and tfeat. frequently verging towards ’ the
the purple. If the effedt of red be not ftrong enough, but the colour tend too much to tranfparency, it may have a greater body given it by adding more of the precipitated gold.
Gompojkion for tranjparmt , or colour.
' N° 2. . ■.
“ Take the flux N° 2. fix parts* the precipitate of gold with tin one parti Flux them, “ together, with a ftrong fire, till the whole “ appear a tranfparent red glafs. Then pour w out the matter on a clean iron plate * and levigate it well; when it will be fit for u painting.”
This preparation will anfwer the end of lake in oil painting, either for glazing or making dark (hades of red. A greater quantity of the gold precipitate may be added where a ftronger foi;ce of colour is defired to be had: and the compofition muft in that cafe be longer continued in fufion. But the flux will not always vitrify more than this proportion lb as to render it perfectly tranfparent.
If this preparation be mixed, after it has been levigated, with a fixth part more of the gold «precipitate, and uled without a fecond fluxing, it will give a very fine deep crimlon, extremely ferviceable in many cafes.
. Compofition
Compofition for a bright orange red*
"N° 3-
€t Take of the fluxes N° 2 or 4, two parts ** of rod precipitate, of mercury one part, mix “ them for painting.”
This makes a very bright orange red; but is very delicate, requiring only juft fo much hea£ as will run the parts of the flux together; and is'therefore difficult to ufe where harder compofitions are to be burnt with it.
Compofition for a cheaper but fouler fcarlet red.
■ N°3.
<c Take of the flux N° L. two parts, and of ** the fcarlet oker as prepared in p. 49 one part. ** Mix them well together; and avoid too ** much or too long heat.”
This is the common red in China, and other enamel paintings. It may be enlivened by mixing one part of glafs of antimony with one part of the flux, inftead of ufing the flux alone. \
Compofition of a cheap crimfon.
N°-4. -
“ Take of the flux N° 1. four parts, of
magnefia one fourth of a part: and fufe ‘ a “ them
“ them till the whole mafs be tranfparent. “ Mix diem then with one part of copper “ calcined to rednefs; and paint with the compofitjon. Where this is required to be ** transparent, the calcined copper fhould be ** vitrified with the other ingredients: but “ this requires great care to take the compo- “ fition out of the fire as foon as the vitrification is perfe&ed.”
A little white enamel, or, what is better, a little of the tin calcined, by means of nitre, as in p. 250,' may be added, to give the colour a body. But this neceffarily dilutes the colour, and weakens the force of it.
This red is very tender} and-, requires only fo much heat as will incorporate the fub-' fiances together: but if it be; found too foft for the tone of the fluxes of the colours, in- flead of ufing the flux, flint glafs with a fmall part of flux may be employed for mixing with the magnefia.
The management of this colour is, however, fo difficult and nice, where it is ufed in very light touches, that in nicer paintings it is better to ufe the precipitate of gold properly broken by the admixture of other colours, where a fouler crimfon is wanted, than to be troubled with watching this. But in grofler works, where the colours are ufed in great quantities, and laid on with a flronger body, this becomes very ferviceable.
In the recipes given for the red formed by calcined copper, it has been ufual to order an
equal
equal, or lbme fuch proportion, of fed tartar} but where the glafs contains any lead, I am apt to believe a reduction of it would follow} which would decompound the body of the flux, and render the competition harder. If tartar be ufed, the flux ought to be formed, therefore, of glafs of felts.
Compofition for pink and roft reds,
N® 5.
** Take any of the above competitions; ** and add of any of the white enamels, or “ of the calx of tin prepared with nitre, or “ calx of antimony, a9 much as fliall be fuf- ticient to dilute the colour to the degree re“ quired.”
Compofition for the blue.
N®6.
" Take of the fluxes N° 1. or N°2. or of “ the Venetian glafs fix parts, of the fineft “ ultramarine one part. Mix them Well for “ painting. If a tranfparent blue be detired “ from ultramarine, a fixth or eighth part “ muft be added to the flux N® 2. and the u mixture kept in fufion till the ultramarine “ be perfectly vitrified, and the whole become “ tranfparent."
1 If
If die body of colour be not fufficient, more ultramarine may be added: but in order to fpare the ultramarine, a finall proportion of zaflfer, fluxed with four or fix times its weight of borax, maybe added : which, if the zaffer be perfectly good, will make the ultramarine appear much darker without impairing its brightnefs. ; .
Compojition of a lighter blue '.
N° 7.
Take of the fluxes N° 3. or 4. five parts; of ultramarine-afhes one part. Mix then* “/for painting.” • '
This is ufed by thofe, who do not know the proper manner of ufing zaflfer; but as the pure ultramarine-afhes have a ftrong tinge of the red, and are never of the firft degree of brightnefs, the fame eflfeft, or indeed a fu- perior one, tnay be produced by the compofi- tions below given.
If the ultramarine-alhes are adulterated'with copper, as is moll frequently the cafe, a green and not a blue will be produced.
Compoftion for a tranfparent blue.
N° 8.
“ Take of any of the fluxes four parts, of “ zaflfer one part. Mix and fufe them with
U “a
“ a ftrong fir«, till the whole maft be per- <( fedly tranfparent: but, if the quantity of “ flux be not fufficient to vitrify the zaffer, “ add more, or a finall proportion of borax. “ When the vitrification of the whole is per-» “ fed, pour out the compofition, and levigate “ it for ufe.”
This will produce a very fine traniparent blue; and being extremely deep, will make very ftrong ftiades, and give the effed of blacknefs, where there is a ftrong body of it laid on.
This may be made with left zaffer, when a left ftrong effed of the. colour is wanted,
' Compojition of a Jky Mm.
N°9.
“ Take of any of the above preparations} ** and add of any of the white enamels, or “ calxes of tin or antimony, as much as will “ be fufficient to produce a blue of that light** neft, which may be wanted.”
By forming a blue in this manner, from the compofition N° 6. the eflfed of the ultrama- rine-afhes may be fully produced as is above intimated.
Compofition of azure eopper,
N° 10.
“ Take of the fluxes N° 3. or 4. five parts,
of copper calcined to a purple colour and
“ of
Laffer each one part. Mix and flux ** them well together; and then levigate, with ■ ** the mixture, of the calx of antimony or tin, “ calcined by nitre, one part; ahd keep the “ matter for painting.”
This is lb precarious with refpedt to thé fuccefs, that it Is rarely ufed: but it Will fometimes produce a good blue ; and is then Cooler and better for fome purpofes than the blues formed, either of zafrers and white, or the ultramarine-alhes.
Compofition of a bright opake full yellow.
N 11
** Take of the fluxes N° 1. or i. four parts; *l of filVer calcined with fulphur as in p. 258, i€ and of antimony each one part. Mix and ** flux them well together till the whole be u perfectly vitrified. Then levigate, with them, otie part of antimony, or tin, calcined ** by means of nitre; and keep the matter for ‘‘ painting.”
This is a foil true yellow, and the brighter coloured compofition that can be ufed. It irnay be made deeper by diminilhing the pro-* portion of the calx of antimony or tin.
Compofition óf a bright tranfparént yellow.
12.
‘c Take of the fluxes N° 1. or 2. fix parts, of calcined filver two pars, and of antimony - U 2“ one
“ one half part. Flux them well till the whole “ be tranfparent: and then levigate the co“ lour for ufe. Where great tranfplarency is “ wanted, the antimony may be omitted.” This is a very deep bright yellow j and proper for (hades or glazing, where great force and purity of colour is required: but for moft purpofes the .cheaper tranfparent yellow will anfwer the fame end, not being greatly faulty in .point of brightness. .
Compojition of a bright tranfparent yellow frotn •
fiver and iron.
,N° 13.
Proceed as in the -above: only, inftead of the antimony, take the precipitated iron as obtained from vitriol according to the directions in p. 266. This will be more tranfparent in general than the fame preparation with anti-r mony; which, differing in the proportion of crude fulphur it contains, does not always fubmit to be vitrified to a greater degree of tranfparency. The yellow prepared in this manner will likewife be very cool and true} and confequently proper for forming fome kinds of greens.
Compoftion of a cheaper opfull yellow.
N° 14.
a
“ Take of the fluxes N° 1. or 2. or Ve-
netian glafs, fix parts, of antimony one
** part,
(< part, and of the iron precipitated from vi- <c trio! half a part. Mix and flux them well ,c together, till the matter be thoroughly vi“ trifled j and then levigate them with one <c part of tin calcined to whitenefs.”
This will differ only from the yellow of N° 11. in not being quite fo bright and full: but will neverthelefs be a very ftrong pure yellow; and fit for all ufes, where the great- eft brightnefs is not requifite. '
Compoftion of a ’warmer opake yellow.
. , N° 15.
Proceed as in the -above, only inftead of the precipitated iron, take the fcarlet oker prepared as in p. 49.
Compojition of a cheaper
N° 16.
“ Take of the fluxes N° 1. or 2. fix parts, “ and of the precipitated iron one part. Mix “ and fufe them in a ftrong fire, till the mafs ** be tranfparent.”
Compofition of a warmer tranfparent yellow.
N 17.
Take of the fluxes N° 1. or 2. fix parts,
of fcarlet oker one part, and of glafs of an- ~ U 3 “ timony
♦* timony. half a part. Mix and fide then* “ till the mafs be tranfparcnt.”
Compoftion of a tranfparent from
merit.
■ N° 18,
“ Take of the flux N° a. three parts, and of the refined orpiment or King’s yellow “ one part. Mix them, hy levigation, for ,c ufe.”
This compofition is extremely tender, and muft have no more fire than will juft make ' the parts of the flux cohere.
If this yellow be defired wanner, a little glafs of antimony may be added.
Compoftion of lighter yellows.
N° 19,
' Add to any of the above common calx of tin or putty j of, if great brightnefs be necef- fary, the calx of tin or antimony calcined by means of nitre. ‘
Compoftion of a very bright green.
N° 20,
“ Take of ultramarine and yellow’ N* 11, each one part, of the fftixes N° 1. or 2.
two
. ±95 u two parts. Mix them well together for ‘c painting.” .
Compojkion of bright green.
,N°21.
** Take of the fluxes N° 1. or 2. fix parts, ** and of copper precipitated by alkaline falls “ one part. Mix and flux them till the mafs “ be tranfparent«” , "
This will be a veiy fine deep green j but inclining to the blue •, which may be eafily corrected, when not agreeable to the purpofe, by the adding a proper quantity of the tran- fparent yellows N* 12. or 13.
Composition of a bright tranfparent green by
mixture.
N° 22.
u Take of the yellow N6 13. and of the “ blue N° 8. equal parts. Levigate them “ well together for ufe.”
Cheaper compoftion of an opake green.
N° 23.
Take of the fluxes N° r. or 2. fix parts, of copper calcined to a purple colour, and tc of die opake yellow N° 14. each one part.
" U 4 “ Mix
“ Mix and flux them well; and then levigatd “ them for ufe with one part of calx of tin."
/ \
Cheaper compojition of an opake green by mixture,
•N’? 24.
“ Take of the yellow N° 14. and the blue “ N° 8. each equal parts.” .
By varying the proportion of thefe mixtures, fea greens, grafs green, or any other teints, may be produced at will.
Compactions for lighter .
• N° 25. ■
«
Add the calxes of tin or antimony to any 6f the above, in the proportion the lightnefs of the colour requires;
Compojitton for. a bright orange colour.
: . N° 26. ■
<e Take of the yellow N° 12. two parts, “ of the red N° 1. one part, and of the yel- “ low N° 11. half a part. Levigate them to- <c gether for ufe.”
N. B. The compolitions, which are not direfted to be fufed when ufed alone, mull: not undergo any in the mixtures to be made of them j but rauli only be levigated with the
other ingredients} and ufed, for painting, in that ftate.
Compoftion for a bright orange.
N° 27.
“ Take of the red N° 2. and of the yellow ** N° 12. equal parts. Mix them well to** gether.” .
Compoftion for a lighter tranfparent orange
extremely bright.
. N® 28.
“ Take of the above and glafs of antimo- “ ny equal parts. Levigate and mix them ** for ufe.
Compoftion of a cheaper tranfparent orange. »
N° 29.
“ Take of the fluxes N® 1. or 2. fix parts, *■* of copper calcined to rednefs one part, and “ of red tartar one part. Flux them till the “ matter become tranfparent; but avoid if “ poflible continuance in the fire a moment “ longer. Levigate it till it appear red, and “ mix with it an equal part of glafs of anti** mony.”
Compojition of a bright
N° 30»
“ Take of the red N° 1. and the blues *c N® 6. and 8. each half a part. Mix them “ for ufe.”
Cmpofition of a bright transparent .
N° 31.
“ Take of the red N° 2. and the blue
N* 8. Mix them for ufe.”
Compojition <f a cheaper opake purple.
N° 32.
“ Take of the fluxes N® 3. or 4. fix parts, “ of zaffer one part, and of magnefia half a “ part. Fufe them, with a ftrong heat, till
the whole be tranfparent j and then add of <c the red N° 4. one part, and of calx of tin “ half a part. Mix and levigate them well “ together for ufe,”
Compojition of a cheaper tranfparent purple.
' . N- 33.
“ Take of the fluxes N° 3. or 4. fix parts,
” of magnefia one half part, and of zaffer
“ one
*(( oftc fixth of a part If a red purple be ** wanted omit the zafier.”
This, and the foregoing, may both be van- ed, either to a more red or a more blue purple, by diminifhing or increafing the proportion of zaffer. If the laft be wanted more red, it may be mixed with a proper quantity of the glafs of antimony.
Gompojithn of an opake brown colour inclining
to red,
N°34*
“ Take of the red N° 3. four parts, and of “ the blue N° 8. one part Mix them for
“ ufe,” •
Compcjition of a tranfyarent red brown colour.
1**35.
“ Take of the purple N° 33. and glafs of antimony equal parts, and of the yellow " N° 17, one fifth of a part. Levigate them “ together for ufe/’
Qompoftion of an opake olive brown ,
N° 36'
u Take of the yellow N° 14. two parts, « pf the blue N° 8, half a part, and of the
y red
“ red N° 3. a fourth of a part. Levigate them together for ufe.”
Compofition of a tranfparent olive brown colour.
N° 37.
Take of the yellow N° 16. one part, and “ of the blue N° 8. and glafs of antimony ** each half a part. Levigate them together w for ufe.”
Thefe may all be varied by changing the proportions of the ingredients} or they may be converted into different teints of light browns, by adding the due quantities of calx of tin: which may be commixt with them when the mixture is made of the other ingredients, or afterwards.
Compofition of black moderately hard.
■ N° 38. . .
“ Take of the flux N° 1. fix parts, of zaf- “ fer one part, of glafs of antimony half a, “ part, and of the fcarlet oker and magne- “ fia each a fourth of a part. Mix and fufe “ them till the matter become a. clear black “ of the deepefl: caft.”
Compojition of black very foft.
N° 39.
“ Subftitute flux N° 2. inftead of N° 1. *' and proceed as in the laft.”
This compofition is extremely well accommodated to die painting enamel dial-plates, or painting on enamel or China grounds in the manner of prints, or chiaro obfcuro: for as it •will run with a very fmall degree of heat, the flighted touches may be brought to (hew themfelves perfectly without the leafl: hazard of fufing the ground fo as to run them together.
The above compofitions may be diverfified, by recompounding them with each other, fô as to form all the variety of teints to fuit every purpofe} and the hardnefc or ibftnefs of the fluxes may be likewife adapted to each occa- fion by mixing them together. With refpedt to the proportions in every compofition ; they may likewife be varied according to the pur- pofes they are ufed for ; there being no pofitive rules to be laid down in thefe matters with relation to quantities, the different degrees in which different parcels of the ingredients pof- fefles the requifite qualities, as well as many other circumftances, preventing the effeft from
being