Many of the valuable techniques and materials formerly used in painting
have been lost or forgotten. With the convenience of the art supply
store, the artist is no longer forced to acquaint himself with many of
the operations performed by the great craftsmen-painters of the past.
The result is that the modern painter often does not understand the
chemical and physical reasons for the steps he follows. This book
bridges the gap between artist and craftsman, and gives the reader
insights into the classical techniques of the great masters as well as
the procedures followed today.
Professor Laurie has based his book on an intensive study of great
master paintings and manuscripts as well as on actual experiment. He
covers techniques for painting on wood panels, paper, walls, and canvas,
and for dealing with watercolors, tempera, fresco, pigments and colors,
balsams, resins, turpentines, varnishes, waxes, sizings, and various
oils such as walnuts, linseed, and poppy. The reader will also find much
information on the behavior of light through various refractions, prism
effect in layers of paint, and the cleaning and preservation of
pictures.
The discussion is illustrated by 48 full-page plates. These
reproductions of actual paintings by major and minor masters --
Rembrandt, Lippi, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Rubens, Hals, and others --
were selected to show specific points of painting condition or technical
procedures. Microphotographs are used to show cross-sections of
painting, age cracks, flaking, pigment particles, and similar material.
