History of llie Art of Dyeing, 307 



ill Italy, and from which the word brasilis, as appears, has 

 been derived. Though Hellot and others despise this work 

 as a wretched collection of recipes, we cannot deny the author 

 the merit of having first opened the way to improve the art of 

 dyeing; of having brought it into high reputation; and in par- 

 ticular, of having excited towards it the attention of foreign 

 nations. 



For about two hundred years before, the Itdians, and par- 

 ticularly the Venetians, had a monopoly of dyeing, and pro- 

 cured large sums by it from neighbouring nations, who made 

 no exertions to practise the art themselves ; for statesmen 

 and men of letters did not think it v/orth their while to give 

 themselves any trouble about it, and from dyers no change 

 whatever was to be expected. But PHctho was tlie first who. 

 exhibited this art in its full lustre, and excited the French, 

 English, and Germans, to apply in earnest, in their different 

 countries, to the improving so useful and extensive a branch 

 of manufacture. 



In France some progress towards this object had been aU 

 ready made. One Giles Gobelin, who had learned from a 

 German the art of dyeing scarlet, endeavoured to establish it 

 in that country, and for this purpose erected a dye-house, in 

 the suburbs of Paris, on a small stream called the Bievre, the 

 water of which was found peculiarly favourable to that co- 

 lour. This undertaking was at first considered to be a work 

 of so much difficulty that no one believed he would be able 

 to complete it, and for that reason this dye-house was called 

 La Folie Gobelin, that is. Gobelin's Folly*. 



Gohelin, however, continued his business, and scarlet dyed 

 after his manner is still called Gobelin's scarlet, and a build- 

 ing in which tapestry is now made is still distinguished by his 

 namef. But dyeing in general continued in a very imperfect 



state 

 * See Histoire de VAcademie Royale des Sciences de Berlin iar 1767» 



p. ^7- 



\ People at that time were so ignorant in matters of this kind that they 

 could not believe that Gobelin performed nhat he did without superna- 

 tural assistance. They invented, therefore, the following story : — Gobelin 

 is said to have entered into a compact with the devil, who was to teach 

 him the art of dyeing scarlet ; and, having learned it, he gained by it )i 

 gieat deal of money. When the term of the compact, however, was 



nearly 



