The artists repository and drawing magazine: exhibiting the principles of the polite arts in their various branches (2.1788)

C 9§ J

OF PAINTING ON GLASS, OR BACK-PAINTING,

This manner of painting is executed with great faci-
lity ; it gives all the foftnefs that can be defired, and is
eafy to work; there are no outlines to draw, nor fha-
dows to infert, but the colours are put on without the ■
trouble of either.

The prints for this purpofe, are done in mezzo-
tinto, but many of thofe well finifhed, engraved in the
manner of chalks, are very proper ; for their madows
being blended together, when rubbed on the glafs, ap-
pear foft and united as drawings in Indian ink.

Such prints are to have their margin cut off \ then on
a piece of fine crown-glafs, very clean, the fize of the
print, and free from knots and fcratches, lay fomc
Venice turpentine on one fide, quite thin and fmooth,
with a painter's brum. Lay the print flat in water ;
when thoroughly wetted, (which requires four and twenty
hours for fome forts of paper, but other ioxts are ready
in two hours,) take it carefully out, and lay it between
dry papers, that the fuperfluous water may be abforbed.

Next, lay the damp print flat on a table, with its face
uppermoft ; then, holding the glafs over it, without
luffering the turpentine to touch it till it is exactly even
with the print, gently prefs the glafs down in feveral
parts ; and turning it, prefs the print with your fingers,
drawing them from the centre to the edges, till every
part is quite fmooth, and free from blifters.

When