This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1758 edition. Excerpt: ... The handmaid to the arts [by R. Dossie.]. Robert Dossie I. A perfect knowledge of the materia pictoria: or the nature, use, preparation, and composition, of all the various substances employed in painting; as well vehicles, dryers, &c. as colours: including those peculiar to enamel and painting on glass. II. The several devices employed for the more easily and accurately making designs from nature, Ot depicted representations; either by oft-tracing, calking, reduction, or other means: with the methods of taking casts, or impressions, from fi gures, busts, medals, leaves, Be. III. The various manners of gilding, silvering, and bronzing, with the preparation of the genuine gold and silver powders, and imitations of them, as also of the fat oil, gold sizes, and other necessary compositions: --the art of japanning as applicable not only to the former purposes, but to coaches, snuffboxes, fjfr. in the manner lately introduced: --ind the method of staining different kinds of substances with all the several colours. The whole being calculated, as well for conveying a more accurate and extensive knowledge of the matters treated of to artists; as to initiate those, who are desirous to attempt these arts, into the method of preparing and using all the colours, and other substances employed in painting in oil, miniature, enamel, varnijh, and fresco j as also in gilding, (Jc. LONDON, Printed for J. Noorse at the Lamb opposite Kalberine-Street in the Strand. M DCC LVI1L Noblemen and Gentlemen, Members of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. My Lords and Gentlemen, THE correspondence betwixt the design of this work and the views, on which you have formed yourselves into a society, natural