FOOTNOTES:
1Philosoph. Transact. vol. xlix. part 2.
1Philosoph. Transact. vol. xlix. part 2.
2Though the Abbé does not quote the passage, one may guess it must be the following the count undertook to explain.Plinylib. xxxv. chap. 11.“Ceris pingere ac picturam inurere quis primus excogitaverit non constat: quidam Aristidis inventum putant, posteà consummatum à Praxitele. Sed aliquanto vetustiores Encausticæ Picturæ exstitere, ut Polignoti & Nicanoris, & Arcesilai Pariorum. Lysippus quoque Æginæ Picturæ suæ inscripsit, ἐνεκαυσεν, quod profecto non fecisset nisi encaustica inventa.”Which may be told in plain English thus, “Who first invented to paint with (or in) wax, and burn in (or fix) the picture with fire, is not certainly known. Some think Aristides invented it, and that Praxiteles brought it to perfection; but there were pictures by masters, of a much older date; such as of Polignote, Nicanor and Arcesilaus, all artists of Paros.“Lysippus writ upon his pictures he burnt in, which he would not have done if the encaustic had not been invented then.”
2Though the Abbé does not quote the passage, one may guess it must be the following the count undertook to explain.Plinylib. xxxv. chap. 11.
“Ceris pingere ac picturam inurere quis primus excogitaverit non constat: quidam Aristidis inventum putant, posteà consummatum à Praxitele. Sed aliquanto vetustiores Encausticæ Picturæ exstitere, ut Polignoti & Nicanoris, & Arcesilai Pariorum. Lysippus quoque Æginæ Picturæ suæ inscripsit, ἐνεκαυσεν, quod profecto non fecisset nisi encaustica inventa.”
Which may be told in plain English thus, “Who first invented to paint with (or in) wax, and burn in (or fix) the picture with fire, is not certainly known. Some think Aristides invented it, and that Praxiteles brought it to perfection; but there were pictures by masters, of a much older date; such as of Polignote, Nicanor and Arcesilaus, all artists of Paros.
“Lysippus writ upon his pictures he burnt in, which he would not have done if the encaustic had not been invented then.”
3Plinyis an evidence for this my opinion; for after having said, lib. xxxv. ch. 4.Nicias scripsit se inussisse, he says,tali enim usus est verbo. Which words seem clearly to indite thatPlinythought it equivocal, or contrary to its proper signification.
3Plinyis an evidence for this my opinion; for after having said, lib. xxxv. ch. 4.Nicias scripsit se inussisse, he says,tali enim usus est verbo. Which words seem clearly to indite thatPlinythought it equivocal, or contrary to its proper signification.
4Both pictures were disposed of as soon as finished to a Dutch gentleman, who sent them to Holland as a pattern, and were mightily approved of.
4Both pictures were disposed of as soon as finished to a Dutch gentleman, who sent them to Holland as a pattern, and were mightily approved of.
5Any sort of old cloth, if whole, is as good as new; I prefer the former to the latter for its softness. To ascertain a just proportion of wax to every sort of cloth is unnecessary, if you should either put too much or not enough, you may easily remedy it. SeeArt.iv. One single trial will clear up the incertitude.
5Any sort of old cloth, if whole, is as good as new; I prefer the former to the latter for its softness. To ascertain a just proportion of wax to every sort of cloth is unnecessary, if you should either put too much or not enough, you may easily remedy it. SeeArt.iv. One single trial will clear up the incertitude.
6Entire colours are the white, red, yellow, blue, &c.
6Entire colours are the white, red, yellow, blue, &c.
7See the nature of this better explained in the copper-plate at the end of observations of Art. 2.
7See the nature of this better explained in the copper-plate at the end of observations of Art. 2.
8I prefer a fire of sea-coals because it is much more uniform, and does not emit so many sparks as wood or charcoals, which might injure the picture, though any fire with proper care will answer the end proposed; a German stove is still better than any fire whatsoever.
8I prefer a fire of sea-coals because it is much more uniform, and does not emit so many sparks as wood or charcoals, which might injure the picture, though any fire with proper care will answer the end proposed; a German stove is still better than any fire whatsoever.
9You will easily know those places that shall want wax; they will appear like so many spots of a lighter hue.
9You will easily know those places that shall want wax; they will appear like so many spots of a lighter hue.
10Any other spirit such as that commonly burnt in lamps, common gin, rum, or genuine brandy, will do just as well; spirit or oil of turpentine is very proper too; but as it smells so very strong, ladies and gentlemen that paint for their amusement only would not like it.
10Any other spirit such as that commonly burnt in lamps, common gin, rum, or genuine brandy, will do just as well; spirit or oil of turpentine is very proper too; but as it smells so very strong, ladies and gentlemen that paint for their amusement only would not like it.
11The same might be practiced upon cloth, it would do better than only rubbing it with the chalk; but for painting with the pencil the bare cloth is still better.
11The same might be practiced upon cloth, it would do better than only rubbing it with the chalk; but for painting with the pencil the bare cloth is still better.
12I am aware that every body will not enter into this doctrine at first, and some may think it very odd that a colour which is used in oil, should not sympathise with wax; the question is easily solved, the grinding stones unite oil and pinks, and bring them together by force, but experience shews it is but for a little while; the oil once dry, pinks soon fly off and fade away.
12I am aware that every body will not enter into this doctrine at first, and some may think it very odd that a colour which is used in oil, should not sympathise with wax; the question is easily solved, the grinding stones unite oil and pinks, and bring them together by force, but experience shews it is but for a little while; the oil once dry, pinks soon fly off and fade away.
13Fullers-earth, pipe-clay, chalk, &c. ought to be left out, because they sink so very low when fixed with wax, and impart a great dullness to all those tints wherein they prevail; pipe-clay and fullers-earth a dusky transparent gray; chalk, a yellowish-white no-colour.
13Fullers-earth, pipe-clay, chalk, &c. ought to be left out, because they sink so very low when fixed with wax, and impart a great dullness to all those tints wherein they prevail; pipe-clay and fullers-earth a dusky transparent gray; chalk, a yellowish-white no-colour.
14Old crayon pictures may be fixed very well; the paste becoming old looses its cohesion; the wax may freely and uniformly penetrate through; they will want retouching. If any artist has a mind to try, he may do it with some insignificant subject for fear of miscarrying on a first trial.
14Old crayon pictures may be fixed very well; the paste becoming old looses its cohesion; the wax may freely and uniformly penetrate through; they will want retouching. If any artist has a mind to try, he may do it with some insignificant subject for fear of miscarrying on a first trial.
15If this treatise should meet with such approbation as to require a second edition, the recipe for the composing of crayons will be inserted at full length.
15If this treatise should meet with such approbation as to require a second edition, the recipe for the composing of crayons will be inserted at full length.