Dictionarium polygraphicum. Minium, or Red-Lead.

Dictionarium Polygraphicum:
Or, The Whole Body of Arts Regularly Digested.
Vol II.
London: Printed for C. Hitch and C. Davis in Pater-noster Row, and S. Austen in St. Paul's Church Yard. MDCCXXXV.
1735
MINIUM, or RED-LEAD, is as heavy and strong a colourr as most we have; but when prepared, is the most delightful one; that is, when it is well washed and cleansed of its more weighty parts, which cause it to turn black.

Mr. Boyle directs the preparing or cleanfing it as follows; Put four ounces of it in a quart of rain-water; then stir it, tod pour off the water immediately, and let it settle to the bottom of every cup or glass you pour it into; then pour off that water, and in a day's time you will have the colour dry, and as fine as you can desire; then put a little gum-arabick into each glass or cup, and as much water as will moisten each of them.

Any of these may be afterwards used with gum-water, but if the gum you put in at first make it strong enough to glaze it, then you need add to it only common water; and according as your colour is less or more gummed, use left or more gumwater; for of it self it is a dead colour.

When you use this colour, touch it gently on the yellow mentioned, made of yellow berries, into the light side, and if it wants a shade, you may put a little vermillion upon it; but vermillion is too heavy to paint with, when you would illuminate prints, because it hides the shades of the engraving; though sometimes they had better be hidden than appear.

Some generally shade this minium or red-lead with carmine, which gives it a fine effect, and renders it' equal to the brightest red flower that is to be seen, leaving still the lights uncoloured, only dashing a little way into the lights with the minium.

When the carmine has shaded the minium or red-lead, it may be shaded again with lake in the strongest part, to bring it to a deeper red.