Memoire sur la peinture a l'encaustique et sur la peinture a la cire

Abstract

"First edition of a work on encaustic and wax painting. The author, Le Comte de Caylus (1692-1765), was one of the main instigators of the interest in rediscovering the lost secret of encaustic painting, which became prevalent in France in the mid-18th century. Through experimentation, he hoped to find a method of painting which did not discolour, flake or deteriorate. In cooperation with the chemist Michel Joseph Majault (ca. 1714-1790), he realised a melting of wax and colours in a tin-plate case on boiling water to achieve a new technique of painting, inspired by antique techniques from Fayum, Egypt. In the present work he gives four recipes for wax painting processes, which aroused enormous interest in the artistic world. The work was reprinted in 1780 and a facsimile edition appeared in 1972."-- Provided by vendor.