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For Pictures of a moderate size I have used strong smooth Pasteboard two thicknesses glued together, with fine muslin pasted on both sides, and painted (on both sides) in the manner of the Canvasses. Their neither expand not contract, and I have never found the Pictures painted on them, after the lapse of many years, to be at all cracked.

I have had much satisfaction with Canvasses prepared thus--The linen being well strained, especially in the warp (or breadth) which stretches most, and the knots being pumiced off, Venice Turpentine, sufficiently diluted with Spirits of Turpentine, with the addition of a little wax, is spread over it saturating every thread; a coat of pohite lead, tinged with black or burnt-umber, & diluted with Sp: of Turpentine is immediately laid over the surface with a brush. It spreads evenly, is easily put on, and dries soon, becoming incorporated with the varnish. When dry it is rubbed with sand (or gloss paper), the surface moistened with drying oil, and immediately another coat of paint is put on--and the same treatment a third time repeated. Canvasses prepared in this manner are but little affected by the changes in the atmosphere, and are very pleasant to paint on. They may be further protected by a coat of wax on the back.

If the surface of the Canvass, thus prepared be too rough, after the 2d coat is dry, it may be scraped down with the edge of a large knife, held at right angles, before the last coat is applied. If too smooth, a beautiful grain or tooth may be given to the last coat with the palm of the hand, lifting it always at right-angles, which produces numerous points, which, when dry, must be pumiced down a little, leaving a grain like the human skin, which receives the paint most favourably.

Panels

Without this moistening with drying out, it is impossible to apply an even coat of the Paint, thinned with Spirits of Turpentine. The result of this operation is that the paint is effectually as if some drying oil were mixed with it, whilst some has entered the pores of the previous coat, and a moist surface to the action of the Brush, the application of each coat is easy, rapid, even & certain, without excels any where.