The art of glass shewing how to make all sorts of glass, crystal and enamel : likewise the making of pearls, precious stones, china and looking-glasses : to which is added, the method of painting on glass and enameling : also how to extract the colours from minerals, metals, herbs and flowers ... : illustrated with proper sculptures / written originally in French, by Mr. H. Blancourt, and now first translated into English ; with an appendix, containing exact instructions for making glass-eyes of all colours.

CHAP. CCXIV. Another Way to Paint on Glass.

THO the former way be very fine and lasting as can be, yet we will here shew another more easie, and altogether as effectual.

Take very White Glass, varnish it very thin on one side with a White Varnish, then having before made choice of some fine Impress, or Cut, on Paper, just fit for the piece of Glass you design to paint its Fancy on, dip it in Water, and letting it soak and dry a little, clap the Picture-side thereof to the Var∣nish-side of the Glass, as exactly, plain, and evenly as possible, and so let it dry throughly; afterwards moisten the Paper on the Blank-side, and with a blunt Graver draw off and trace the Lines of the Picture, which will afterward remain perfect and distinctly on the Varnish-side of your Glass Quarre.

This Draught is for the Model you must paint your Fillings in, and observe that the Tracings and Strokes of the Picture are to serve you in Shadow∣ing, which cannot be rejected without disadvantage to your piece.

The manner of painting on Glass, is quite con∣trary to that of Limning, or Painting on Cloath, or Wood; for in this the paint being but on one side, is plainly visible on the other; here the Settings off are first done, then the compound Colours just run over, and so continuing until perfected; whereas on Linen, &c. the Settings-off, or Heightnings, are the last strokes, and their Ground-colour, or first, is that which we end withal, and make our last lay with in all pieces done on Glass.

We do not shew the Way to make up the Colours, nor how to mix and finish the Artificial ones, for that relates immediately to the Art of Painting, of which se∣veral pieces are extant, and not to this Art of Glass; and these noted herein are the same as in the other Art of Painting on Cloath, and not very uneasily pre∣pared.

You must also paint on Glass, just as in Miniature, with Water-Colours, laying your Picture under∣neath it, as before, and this will shew finer than if done in Oyl; besides, the Colours dry in a mo∣ment.

Your pieces being thus done in Oyl, or Water∣colour, may receive a very additional and improving Beauty, by over-laying all the Colours, except the Ground, with Leaf-Silver, which will appear very glorious and lively on such as are transparent; to wit, Lakes, Verditers, &c.