[DOSSIE, ROBERT (1717-1777)]. The Handmaid to the Arts. London: Printed for J. Nourse, MDCC LVIII. [1758].
Hardcover. First edition. In two volumes, complete. Leather-bound. Octavo (210 x 130 mm), pp. [24], (8), 448, [11 index, 1 adds]; [xv], (13), 448, [10 index, 2 adds]. Bound in contemporary calf, five raised bands, gilt ruling and lettering. Condition: GOOD. Collated complete. A little cracking to upper hinges but all holding firmly. Minor wear to extremities. Contents largely clean. Previous owner bookplate to front of each volume. Lacking front blank to volume I.
Notes: This work contains information on all aspects painting, engraving, colouring of prints, transfer of prints onto glass, colouring of glass, etching of glass, Japanning, lacquering, papier mache, marbling paper, etc. A fascinating compendium. Robert Dossie (1717-1777) was an apothecary, but his interests were very wide ranging and spanned the gulf between the Sciences and the Arts. His training and his knowledge of chemistry allowed him to understand the science behind many of the processes used by artists, artisans and manufacturers of the day, and his wish was to explain and improve on the results that were achieved. He strove for this in his publications, including the present work, and the same motivation led him to help fund the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in 1754. His works were appreciated during his lifetime, were translated into various languages and contain information that remains valuable today.
Volume I is in three parts, Part I deals with the substances generally used in painting, colours, instruments, colour preparation, bonding substances, oil and water, varnishing, glass and map washes, as well as cleaning of paintings, Part II contains several arts used in making outline sketches from nature, taking impressions from medals, busts, Part III, discusses gilding, silvering, bronzing, japanning, lacquering, and the staining different kinds of substances with a variety of colour. Volume II is in five parts, Part I works with inks, cements, and ceiling wax, Part II, has contents on engraving, etching, scraping mezzotintoes, Part III, explicates the nature and composition of glass, and the art of counterfeiting gems of any kind. Part IV is on the nature, composition, glazing, painting and gilding of porcelain, or China ware, Part V, shows the method of preparing and moulding papier mache, and whole paper, for informing boxes, frames, festoons, &c, with the manner of making the light Japan ware, the appendix at the back of Volume II has several article on topics such as methods of taking off paintings in oil from cloth, the original recipe for Prussian blue, of light red or ochre, preparation of ivory and other such topics.
