374 IMPROVED METHOD OF PAINTING CANVAS. 



actual trials of near four years, I can vouch for its being a 

 preserves pa'mt preservative to red, yellow, and black paints, when ground 

 in casks for j n |j an( j p U £ j n cas t s% When the paints were examined 

 at the expiration of such time, they discovered no improper 

 hardness ; but when laid on the work with a brush, they 

 dried in a remarkable manner, without addition of any of 

 the usual drying articles. I still preserve some of these 

 paints for future trials, and I believe this plan of preserving 

 colours will be of essential use to colourmen, and other 

 persons who purchase colours for exportation. The ingre- 

 dient I use is perfectly simple, being a solution of yellow 

 soap ; and the composition for painting is made in the fol- 

 lowing maimer : 

 The composi- To one pound of soap I add six pints of water in a vessel 

 **° a ' over the lire ; in a few minutes after the boiling of the water 



the soap will dissolve ; while hot it is to be mixed with oil 

 paint, prepared as hereafter directed, and is then fit for im- 

 mediate use. The above quantity of soap solution will be 

 sufficient to mix with one hundred weight of paint. The 

 first coat to be laid upon the canvas is to be intirely of this 

 composition, without first wetting the canvas in the usual 

 way. A very small proportion of it, or none, is necessary 

 in the second coat : and the third coat should be of oil paint 

 alone. 

 Old method of The method heretofore practised in his majesty's dock, 

 painting canvas var( j s f QT paiatiag canvas, was as follows: The canvas 

 was first wet with water, then primed with Spanish brown; 

 a second coat given it of a chocolate colour, made from 

 Spanish brown and black paint; and, lastly, finished with 

 black. This mode is destructive, and more expensive than 

 mine, in the proportion before mentioned. 

 >7ew method. ^ n m ,V method, to ninety-six pounds of English ochre 

 ground in boiled oil, I add sixteen pounds of black paint, 

 being one sixth in proportion of the ochre ; this, when 

 mixed, forms an indifferent black. The solution, made of 

 one pound of soap and six pints of water, is to be added 

 to this paint, and well united therewith ; and without the 

 canvas being previously wet, this composition is to be laid 

 upon the canvas, as stiff as can conveniently be done with 

 the brush, and this first coat will form a tolerably smooth 



surface* 



