Merrifield, Mary Philadelphia: Practical Directions For Portrait Painting In Water-Colours (London, 1854)

54

DRAPERIES.

rounding objects • for example, where the background
is green, the shades and middle tints of white drapery will
incline to green j where the background is blue, they will
partake of that colour.

In black draperies, the lights should be cool and the
shadows warm. A good colour for black draperies is made
with Sepia, Lake and Indigo, which, if properly mixed,
make as fine a Black as can be desired.

In blue draperies the lights and half-lights are cold,
the shadows warmed with Lake, or Lake and Sepia; and
where the blue approaches purple with orange. Cobalt
may be used for the lighter tints; and for the shadows,
French Ultramarine strengthened in the deepest parts with
India'o and Lake. When black—black lace, for instance
—is contrasted with deep blue, the former must be very
warm; and instead of black, warm browns, heightened,
if necessary, with Venetian Red, should be used, for these
by contrast appear black.

In yellow draperies, the shades are of Burnt Sienna,
finished with Vandyke Brown, and the local colour, Gam-
boge or Indian Yellow.

As a general rule, the middle tints of all draperies are to
be cool.