in Imitation of the Ancient Grecian Manner. 121 



small pieces, stirring and beating the different ingredients 

 together, till the wax is perfectly melted and has boiled. 

 Then take the composition off the fire, as boiling it longer 

 than necessary would only harden the wax, and prevent its 

 mixing so well afterwards with water. When the compo- 

 sition is taken off the fire, and in the glazed earthen vessel, 

 it should be beaten hard, and whilst hot (but not boiling) 

 mix with it by degrees a pint (wine measure) or sixteen 

 ounces more of cold spring water, then strain the compo- 

 sition, as some dirt will boil out of the gumrmastich, and 

 put it into bottles- : the composition, if properly made, should 

 be like a cream, and the colours when mixed with it, as 

 smooth as with oil. The method of using it, is to mix with 

 the composition upon an earthen palette, such colours in 

 powder as are used in painting with oil, and such a quantity 

 of the composition to be mixed with the colours as to render 

 them of the usual consistency of oil colours; then paint 

 with fair water. The colours when mixed with the compo- 

 sition may be laid on either thick or thin, as may best suit 

 your subject, on which account, this composition is very 

 advantageous, where any particular transparency of colour- 

 ing is required ; but in most cases it answers best, if the 

 colours be laid on thick, and they require the same use of 

 the brush, as if painting with body colours, and the same 

 brushes as used in oil painting. The colours if grown dry, 

 when mixed with the composition, may be used by putting 

 a little fair water over them; but it is less trouble to put 

 some water when the colours are observed to be srowinjr 

 dry. In painting with this composition the colours blend 

 without difficulty when wet, and even when dry the tints 

 may easily be united by means of a brush and a very small 

 quantity of fair water. When the painting is finished, put 

 some white wax into a glazed earthen vessel over a slow fire, 

 and when melted, but not boiling, with a hard brush cover 

 the painting with the wax, and when cold take a moderately 

 hot iron, such as is used for ironing linen, and so cold as 

 not to hiss, if touched with any thing wet, and draw it 

 lightly over the wax. The painting will appear as if under 

 a cloud till the wax is perfectly cold, as also, whatever the 



picture 



