Some 18^th Century Instructions for Making Watercolours

Most usually Antique Atlases and Maps were published in their raw black and white engraved state, colouring them was quite a task in those days you couldn't just nip down to the art shop and buy a palette of colours, you had to make them up yourself.

Here is a set of instructions from the 18^th Century which lays out how to make the colours commonly used for colouring maps.

For colouring maps, an amusement both extremely agreeable and of great advantage, besides the colours, gum water and tartar ley are principally requisite.

Gum Water may be made in this proportion. Three ounces of whitest and clearest gum arabic, beat small, may be dissolved in a pint of fair spring water: shake it two or three times a day very well. If there is any foulness in it, strain it through a rag into a clean earthen dish, and then bottle it for use. It should be made fresh every two months; therefore small quantities are best at once.

Tartar Ley is made in this manner. Wrap about two ounces of the best white tartar very tight in half a sheet of brown cap paper, thoroughly wet; put it into a clear fire of wood or sea coal, to remain till it is red hot, when it must be taken out with the tongs, and immediately put in a pint of water. Rub it well to pieces with your fingers, and put all into a long narrow glass; in a day or two the clear ley may be decanted off, and, when put into a clean glass, kept for use.

Colours of a superior brightness and lustre are made as follows, peculiarly calculated for improving and embellishing maps.

A COPPER GREEN is thus made. Take a quantity of the best French verdigris, which beat into a fine powder, with about one fifth of cream of tartar, avoiding the founts of verdigris by snuffing the nose, and holding some fine linen in the mouth. Mix the powders in about five or six times their weight of water, which boil away in an earthen pipkin to half; and when cold, strain it, putting the liquor into a glass, which stop up, and let it stand to settle till the liquor is very clear. If it should not be deep enough, diminish it by a gentle heat over a few coals, and try its strength by a slip of white paper. But it should not shine too much; this will sometimes make it necessary to boil it anew with some more verdigris, so as to become at transparent, deep willow green. This colour will keep many years, if close corked. A little quantity may be made in a small pot or cup over a few hot embers.

A STONE-COLOUR is made by boiling an ounce of the best myrrh, in powder, in a pint of the tartar ley, till it is dissolved. A short time will do it; pour off the clear liquor, when settled, for use, keeping it close stopped. It will never decay: boil away the liquor to make it deeper, or add neater to make it fainter.

A CRIMSON COLOUR may be made with about 30 or 40 grains of good cochineal, bruised to fine powder in a gally pot, adding as many drops of tartar ley as will just wet it, and force the colour. Put half a spoonful of water to it immediately, or more, if it is too deep; you will have a delicate PURPLE COLOUR or Tincture. Scrape a very little allum into the tincture, and it will change into a delicate crimson; it should be used soon, as it decays with keeping.

part 2 - Making Watercolours for Colouring Maps

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