LXXVIII. To clean pictures.LXXIX. Another for the same purpose.LXXX. A secret to render old pictures, as fine as new.LXXXI. An oil to prevent pictures from blackening. - It may serve also to make cloth to carry in the pocket, against wet weather.LXXXII. A wash to clean pictures.LXXXIII. Another way.LXXXIV. Another way.LXXXV. A very curious and simple way of preventing flies from sitting on pictures, or any other furniture, and making their dung there.

Valuable Secrets concerning Arts and Trades:
or Approved Directions, from the best Artists, for the Various Methods...
Printed by Thomas Hubbard,
Norwich, 1795Chap. V. Secrets concerning colours & painting.

§ VIII. Preparations of colours of all sorts for oil, water, and crayons.


LXXVIII. To clean pictures.

Take the picture out of its gilt frame. Lay a clean towel on it, which, for the space of ten, fourteen, sixteen, or eighteen days, according as you find it necessary, you keep continually wetting, till it has entirely drawn out all the filthiness from the picture. Then, with the tip of your finger, pass some lintseed oil which has been set a long while in the sun to purify it, and the picture will become as fine as new.


LXXIX. Another for the same purpose.

Put into two quarts of the oldest lye one quarter of a: pound of Genoa soap, rasped very fine, with about a pint of spirit of wine, and boil all together on the fire. Strain it through a cloth, and let it cool. Then with a brush, dipped in that composition, rub the picture allover, and let it dry. Do the same again once more, and let it dry too. When dry, dip a little cotton in oil of nut, and pass it over all the picture. Let this dry again; and, afterwards, warm a cloth, with which rub the picture well over, and it will be as fine as just out of the painter's hands.


LXXX. A secret to render old pictures, as fine as new.

Boil in a new pipkin, for the space of a quarter of an or, one quarter of a pound of grey or Bril-ash, and a little Geeoa soap. Let it cool, so as to be only lukewarm, and wash your picture with it, then wipe it. Pass some olive oil on it, and then wipe it off again. This will make it just as fine as new.


LXXXI. An oil to prevent pictures from blackening. - It may serve also to make cloth to carry in the pocket, against wet weather.

Put some nut, or lintseed oil, in a phial, and set in the sun to purify it.When it has deposited its dregs at the bottom, decant it gently into another clean phial, and set it again in the sun as before. Continue so doing, till it drops no more fæces at all. And with that oil, you will make the above-described compositions.


LXXXII. A wash to clean pictures.

Make a lye with clear water and wood ashes; in this dip a sponge, and rub the picture over, and it will cleanse it perfectly. - The same maybe done with chamber-lye only; or otherwise, with white wine, and it will have the same effect.


LXXXIII. Another way.

Put filings in an handkerchief, and rub the picture with it. Then pass a coat of gum-arabic water on the picture.


LXXXIV. Another way.

Beat the white of an egg in chamber-lye, and rub the picture with it.


LXXXV. A very curious and simple way of preventing flies from sitting on pictures, or any other furniture, and making their dung there.

Let a large bunch of leeks soak for five or six days in a pailful of water, and wash your picture, or any other piece of furniture, with it. The flies will never come near any thing so washed. This secret is very important and well experienced.