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impair the authority of the work, however correct in many respects: Besides, the Author in several instances gives the process as for making Colours which, from their fugitive nature, should never be employed; such as Carmine Minium, Massicot &c; and in speaking of Naples Yellow leaves it doubtful whether it be safe to use it as a permanent Colour, founded upon a hypothetical idea that it contains Arsenic, which is not the case - and citing authorities both for and against it, instead of testing it by his own experiment.

The Cromatography of Field, from his practical knowledge of Chemistry, contains much valuable information concerning the qualities of [[strikethrough]] colours [[/strikethrough]] Pigments; but his chief pride is an exhibition of the "Poetic use of Colours", and their "powers of expression"-- which is more amusing to read the useful in application. In the preface to his work however he judiciously says - "Among the means essential to proficiency in painting, none is of more importance than a just knowledge of Colours and Pigments - their qualities, powers and effects; and there is none to which the press has hitherto afforded fewer helps.  There have appeared, it is true, at different times, several works professing this object, and most of our Encyclopedias and Books of Painting treat cursorily of this branch of the Art; but not only are these, for the most part, transcripts of the same obsolete originals, unsuited to the present state of the Art, but they are inadequate, irrelevant, and often erroneous or untrue."  He adds - "There is no want, in the present day, of the furniture of the Palette; since pigments and fine ones too, so abound, that it requires nearly as much experience for a judicious selection of them, as was formerly required for their acquisition or production" - "And since the necessity for, and the practice of, the Artist's preparing his own Materials have ceased, it is the more essential that he should be enabled by precept to select, appreciate, and understand the pigments and Vehicles he employs." And again - "With respect to the application of Colours in painting, recourse must be had to practice under the direction of an able Master."

The Art of Painting is sufficiently difficult in all the circumstances of