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Notes of the Painting Room

Materials
Whatever may be said by Amateur Writers to show that in the hands of Genius the commonest materials and instruments of Art interpose no obstacle to the production of excellent works, and that an experienced Artist will paint a better picture on a bad canvass, and with indifferent brushes and ordinary colours, than an ignorant Artist can with the best materials - and however true the assertion may be, it would be unreasonable to suppose the Fine Arts, less than any of the coarser Arts, required the [[strikethrough]] best Instruments [[/strikethrough]] most suitable instruments, the purest materials, and the best modes of proceeding, in order, with the greatest facility and the most satisfaction, to execute the best and finest works of Art.  It is for this that in Cities where these Arts are cultivated, continual attention is paid to the manufacture and preparation of every Article of use or convenience, to improve them even in the slightest degree; and that every Artist seeks to procure them to the best of his ability.  It is, therefore, a necessary part of his knowledge to be acquainted with qualities of his canvass, oils, and pigments, so as to adapt them to their several purposes, and to understand the most efficient methods of using them.

Canvass, Panels &c.
Canvass or Panels, which the Ancients called Tables, at all times important in the consideration of the Artist, is particularly so in America, where the extremes of heat and cold, dryness & moisture subject them to injuries to which they are not liable in climates less variable; and the evil is aggravated by the use of Anthracite [[strikethrough]] coal [[/strikethrough]] fires, and the excessive heat of warm air Furnaces.  It is therefore necessary to understand the advantages & disadvantages of each material that may be used, and to have this knowledge founded upon actual and long experience.  When Oil painting succeeded to Fresco painting, Panels of Wood were employed, prepared with Plaster of Paris and glue, and those Tables were made by skilful workmen of very large size & great thickness.  As the