STATUE. OF JQAN OF AUe. 131 



The firft of Fruftldor, An Xf. the bufinefs was began ; 

 but as they commenced with the bas-reliefs, it was not till 

 three months after that they undertook the work of the ftatue. 



They made ufe of the common fand of the founders, which The procefi Je- 

 i^ argillaceous, and always kept a little moift. Afier having ."' \^ of Arc 

 well raked it, feparated all the ftones, and broken all the in fund. 

 Jumps that could be met with, they filled with it a cafe of 

 2,20 metres long, and one metre broad at the infide, and 16 

 centimetres high ; the thicknefs of the wood of the cafe was 

 eight centimetres. The fand was ftrongly beaten with a rammer 

 JO centimetres broad and 60 long, and by this operation ac- 

 quired fufficient confiftence to be raifed along with the cafe 

 without any danger of running out. 



After this the ftatue was placed upon the firft cafe, which 

 is called the falfe mold, becaufe it was to be afterwards re- 

 placed by another: the fand was ftirred up a little, to j^ermit 

 the nioft prominent parts to enter it ; another cafe of the fame 

 fize was then put over the firft, and attached to it by four 

 points of iron. 



The true concare mold was then began, by modelling each Method of form- 

 part of the figure with the fame kind of fand. A workman'"- ^''^ '^''^^' 

 of much addrefs and intelligence is requifite for the divifion 

 and diftribution of the different pieces which form the 

 mold: he fliould explain the motives which induced him 

 to prefer one diftribution to another : each piece ftiould have 

 different fedions : care fhould be taken to mold the parts 

 which have a large and uniform furface in a fingle piece, 

 while the pieces muft be multiplied for thofe portions of the 

 ftatue which have many finuofities and deep indentations. . 



This part of the operation requires the moft care ; for if it 

 be performed with negligence, the extraction of the model 

 would be attended with great difficulties; and if the workman 

 employed is aukward, numerous faults will need reparation 

 after the cafting, and probably great accidents may happen. 

 It is but juftice to fay, that Genon, the workman on this 

 Hatue, fliewed in his performance equal dexterity and know- , 

 ledge. 



To prevent the pieces of the mold from adhering to each 

 other, care is taken to powder the parts of each which is 

 finifbed, with charcoal duft inclofed in a bag, before a new 

 piece is began. The workman having finiflied "the mold- 

 ings. 



