135 Fine Arts. [Chap. X. 



the recovery of the Encaustic method of painting, 

 ^vhich was mucli used by tlie ancients, but had 

 been long lost. This method consists in the use 

 o^ xvax to give a gloss to colours, and to preserve 

 them from the injuries of the air. The restoration 

 of this art is ascribed to count Caylus, a member 

 of the Acadcmij of Inscriptions in France, and was 

 announced to the Academy of Painting and Belles 

 Lettres in 1753; though M. Bachelier had ac- 

 tually painted a picture in wax in 1749; and he 

 was the first who communicated to the public the 

 method of performing the operation of inustiony 

 which is the principal characteristic of the encaus- 

 tic painting. Some additional facts were after- 

 wards brought to light, and some improvements 

 in this art were proposed by Mr. Muntz, m an 

 elaborate treatise on this subject. A different and 

 improved species of encaustic painting was next 

 discovered, in 1759, by Mr. Joslma Colebrook, of 

 Great Britain; and, finally, IMiss Greenland, of 

 the same country, in 1787, communicated to the 

 Society of Arts some further discoveries and im- 

 provements, which were rewarded by that asso- 

 ciation with a prize. This method of painting has 

 many advantages. The colours laid on in this 

 manner have all the strength of painting in oil, 

 and all the airiness of water-colours, without par- 

 taking of the defects of either. They are firm, 

 will bear washing, and may be retouched at plea- 

 sure, without injury. The duration of this kind 

 of painting is also an advantage; the colours are 

 not liable to fade and change ; no damp, or cor- 

 rosive substance, can aiiect them j they have no 



