J 22 Preparing and applying a Composition for Painting 



picture is painted upon is quite cold ; but if, when so, the 

 painting should not appear sufficiently clear, it may be held 

 before the fire, so far from it as to melt the wax but slowly ; 

 or the wax may be melted by holding a hot poker at such a 

 distance as to melt it gently, especially such parts of the 

 picture as should not appear sufficiently transparent or bril- 

 liant; for the oftener heat is applied to the picture, the 

 greater will be the transparency and brilliancy of colouring; 

 but the contrary effect would be produced if too sudden, or 

 too great a degree of heat was applied, or for too long a time, 

 as it would draw the wax too much to the surface, and 

 might likewise crack the paint. Should the coat of wax put 

 over the painting when finished, appear in any part uneven; 

 it may be remedied by drawing a moderatly hot iron over it 

 again as before mentioned, or even by scraping the wax with 

 a knife : and should the wax by too great or too long an 

 application of heat form into bubbles at particular places, by 

 applying a poker heated, or even a tobacco-pipe made hot, 

 the bubbles would subside ; or such defects may be removed 

 by drawing any thing hard over the wax, which would close 

 any small cavities. 



When the picture is cold, rub it with a fine linen cloth. 

 Paintings may be executed in this manner upon wood (hav- 

 ing first pieces of wood let in behind, across the grain of the 

 wood to prevent its warping,) canvass, card, or plaster of 

 Paris. The piaster of Paris would require no other prepa- 

 ration than mixing some fine plaster of Paris in powder with 

 cold water the thickness of a cream ; then put it on a look- 

 injr-glass, having first made a frame of bees-wax on the 

 Jooking-glass the form and thickness you would wish the 

 plaster of Paris to be of, and when dry take it off, and there 

 will be a very smooth surface to paint upon. Wood and 

 canvass are best covered with some gray tint mixed with the 

 same composition of gum-arabic, gum-mastich, and wax, 

 and of the same sort of colours as before mentioned, before 

 the design is begun, in order to cover the grain of the wood 

 or the threads of the canvas. Paintings may also be done 

 in the game manner with only gum -water and guui-mastich» 

 prepared the same way as the mastich and wax; but instead 



of 



