Neve 1703

T. S. [Richard Neve], Arts Improvement: Or, Choice Experiments and Observations in Building, Husbandry, Gardening, Mechanicks, Chimistry, Painting, Japaning, Varnishing, Guilding, Inlaying, Embossing, Carving, Preserving several Things in their Natural Shape and Colour. And in other Arts and Sciences Profitable and Pleasant…, London [D. Brown] 1703.

pp. 10–11

Of making Lime-Milk.

(18.) The best Lime Milk is made after the Lime hath been a long time slacked, into which, having put a sufficient quantity of Water, it must be stirred till it make a white Froth on the top, which must be immediately taken off and kept for use. The last passing over, it ought to be with Milk of unslacked Lime, that the White may have the better Gloss. Ibid.

(19.) Of another way of White-washing: It must be first done over with Lime and Black, well layed by Rule and Plummet, and be rubbed over smooth, then Whiten it Three or Four times together with Lime-Milk: The First White must be very clear; the Second, somewhat thicker; and the Third, more, so putting to it more or less Water, as you think fit. This way may be called the best, most beautiful and quickest of all. Ibid.

(20.) Of a Way used in France, to Rub and Colour Plaster’d, Ceilings and Floors:

You must scrape it very well, then take Urine and Soot of a Chimney, or of an Oven is better; mix and dissolve it well, letting it infuse Two Days; then with a Brush, rub the Floor or Ceiling, and let them dry before you walk over them; when dry, rub them as you do Boarded Floors. Ibid.

(21.) For the Satisfaction of the Curious, I shall here add, the Method of making the Plaster of the Ancients, wherewith they made their Ground for that Noble Way of Fresco Painting, so much esteem’d by the Ancient Greeks, and since by the Romans. Plutarch tells us, that Aratus, the Great Commander under Ptolomy King of Ægypt, spared the sacking of a City, purely for the Excellency of Fresco Painting, that was upon the Walls and outside of the Houses. It hath also been much in esteem amongst the Germans, who had several Towns of it rarely done; which were ruined in the Wars betwixt the Emperor and the Protestants. At Fountain-Bleau, in France, is Excellent Work of this kind, done almost 200 Years ago. The Plaster they made of Lime, which was often washed till the Salt was abstracted; this was done by often pouring Water on it, which the oftener the better; this Lime they mixt with the fine Powder of Old rubbish Stones: This Plaster they laid on in clear dry Weather; but to make this Work the more durable, they used to drive into the Walls, stumps of headed Nails, about Five or Six Inches asunder; and by this means, the Plaster was preserved from peeling. Then with this Past or Plaster, they Plastered the Wall a pretty thickness, letting it dry; being dry, they Plastered it over again, about the thickness of half a Barly Corn, very fine and smooth; then your Colours being ready prepared, work this last Plastering over whilst it is wet, so will your Painting unite and join fast to the Plaster, and dry together as a perfect Compost. For this use all Earthy Colours are best, as the Okers, Spanish Brown, Spanish White, Terra-vert, and the like: Mineral Colours are naught. For this Design they used Pencils and Brushes, long and soft, otherwise the Work would not be smooth: They also observed, to let their Colours be full, and to flow freely from the Pencil or Brush. Sand. Graph. 81. N. B. Your Colours may be mixt with Lime-Water, Milk or Whey.

(22.) Of Burning Lime: An Ingenious Sussex Gentleman introduced the use of Fern, for Burning of Lime, which he found answered that end as well as Wood (the Flame thereof being Vehement) and is far Cheaper. Coll. Eng. Wor. 193. And why might it not serve also, to Burn Bricks and Tiles, it were Cut in Season, and bound up when dry into Fagots fit for the Kiln?

(23.) Of White-washing of Walls and Ceilings: For this purpose they generally use Lime incorporated with Size-Water: But I have heard some Ancient Masons commend Fleet-Milk [Viz. such as the Cream hath been scummed from] or Whey, and they say, it makes a better White, and more durable: Esq; Sanderson in’s Graphice says, it will endure the Weather very well.