On Encatiftic Vaint'mg. 1^3 



refpeft to this Egvptian mode of painting, were as far from 

 the truth as the accounts of ancient authors appear to me 

 precife and fatisfattory ; and that the eneauftum with which 

 formerly the fore part of fhips and the walls of houfes and 

 temples were painted, was fomething different from foap or 

 reiinous crayons {pajhllo di maflice). 



The bans however of the ancient pigments for the fkin 

 was perhaps formed of a waxy foap, with which they com- 

 bined lake (fuco) and white lead ; and hence perhaps arofe 

 the well-known common expreffion, which is ftill figuratively 

 ufed, when people fay that a face has luona or cattiva cera, 

 according as the complexion appears healthful or fickly. 

 But as thofe who at prefent prepare paints for the fkin do not 

 ufe that oil which the portrait-painters employ, it is not im- 

 probable that the ancients made ufe of one compofition for 

 paintings, and another for improving the natural complexion 

 of the female fkin. 



I am well aware that it will be afked : In what manner can 

 wax at prefent be rendered fufficiently liquid for the ftrokes of 

 the pencil, if it be not converted into powder or foap ? This 

 queftion, in my opinion, can be fully anfv. ered from the words 

 of an ancient author, and in the next place by experience. 



Vitruvius in particular, book vii. chap. ix. exprefles him- 

 ielf in the following clear manner : 



** Thofe," fays he, " who with to retain cinnabar on 

 walls, cover it, when it has been well laid on and dried, with 

 Punic wax diluted in a little oil (let this be well remarked) ; 

 and after they have fpread out the wax with a hair bmfh. 

 they heat the wall by means of a brazier filled with burning 

 coals (hence it is called encauflic painting), and then make 

 it fmooth and level by rubbing it with wax tapers and clean 

 cloths, as is done when marble ftatues are covered with wax. 

 The effect of this wax cruft is, that the colour is not deflroyed 

 by the light of the fun or the moon." 



It here appears by thefe words of Vitruvius that the 



Romans, who copied the Grecian procefs, which the latter 



9 borrowed 



