Salmon 1673

William Salmon, Polygraphice, or The Arts of Drawing, Engraving, Etching, Limning, Painting, Washing, Varnishing, Gilding, Colouring, Dying, Beautifying and Perfuming, in four Books…, London [E. T. – R. H.] 1673.

POLYGRAPHICES
LIBER QUARTUS.

Containing the Original,
Avancement and Perfection of
the Art of Painting.

. . .

pp. 239–240

Chap. XI.

Of Frescoe, or Painting of Walls.

I. IN painting upon Walls, to make it endure the weather, you must grind your colours with Lime water, Milk, or Whey, mixt in size colouring pots.

II. The paste or plaister must be made of well wash’d lime, mixt with fine powder of old rubbish stones: the lime must be so often wash’d, till all its salt is abstracted; and all your work must be done, in clear and dry weather.

III. To make the work endure, strike into the wall stumps of headed nails, about five or six inches asunder, and by this means you may preserve the plaister from peeling.

IV. Then with this paste, plaister the wall, a pretty thickness, letting it dry: being dry, plaister it over again, about the thickness of half barley corn, very fine and smooth, then your colours being ready prepared, work this last plaistering over, whilest it is wet, so will your Painting unite and join fast to the plaister, and dry together as a perfect compost.

V. In painting be nimble and free, let your work be bold and strong, but be sure to be exact, for there can be no alteration after the first painting; and therefore heighten your paint enough at first, you may deepen at pleasure.

VI. All earthy colours are best, as the Okers, Spanish white, Spanish brown, Terrae vert, and the like; mineral colours are naught.

VII. Lastly, let your pencils and brushes be long and soft, otherwise your work will not be smooth; let your colours be full, and flow freely from the pencil or brush; and let your design be perfect at first; for in this, there is no after alteration to be made.