the method of preparing and colouring the marbled paper.

There are several kinds of marbled paper; but the principal difference of them lies in the forms in which the colours are laid on the ground: some being disposed in whirls or circumvolutions; some in jagged lengths; and others only in spots of a roundish or oval figure. The general manner of managing each kind is, nevertheless, the same; being the dipping the paper in a solution of gum-tragacanth, or, as it is commonly called, gum-dragon; over which the colours, previously prepared with ox-gall and spirit of wine, are first spread.

The peculiar apparatus necessary for this purpose, is a trough for containing the gum-tragacanth and the colours; a comb for disposing them in the figure usually chosen; and a burnishing stone for polishing the paper. The trough may be of any kind of wood; and must be somewhat larger than the sheets of paper for marbling which it is to be employed: but the sides of it need only rise about two inches above the bottom; for by making it thus shallow, the least quantity of the solution of the gum will serve to fill it. The comb may be also of wood, and five inches in length; but should have bristle teeth, which may be about two inches long, and placed at about a quarter of an inch distance from each other. The burnishing stone may be of jasper or agate; but as those stones are very dear when of sufficient largeness, marble or glass may be used, provided their surface be polished to a greater degree of smoothness.

These implements being prepared, the solution of gum-tragacanth must be made, by putting a sufficient proportion of the gum, which should be white and clear from all souffles, into clean water, and letting it remain there a day or two, frequently breaking the lumps and stirring it till the whole shall appear dissolved and equally mixed with the water. The consistence of the solution should be nearly that of strong gum-water used in miniature-painting; and if it appear thicker, water must be added; or if thinner, more of the gum. When the solution is thus brought to a due state, it must be passed through a linen cloth; and being then put into the trough, it will be ready to receive the colours.

The colours employed for red are carmine, lake, rose-pink, and vermilion; but the two last are too hard and glaring, unless they be mixed with rose-pink or lake, to bring them to a softer cast; and with respect to the carmine and lake, they are too dear for common purposes: for yellow, Dutch pink and yellow ochre may be employed;—for blue, Prussian blue and verditer may be used;—for green, verdigris, a mixture of Dutch pink and Prussian blue, or verditer, in different proportions;—for orange, the orange-lake, or a mixture of vermilion, or red lead, with Dutch pink;—for purple, rose-pink and Prussian blue.

These several colours should be ground with spirit of wine till they be of a proper fineness; and then, at the time of using them, a little gall-gall, or in default of it the gall of a beast, should be added, by grinding them over again with it. The proper proportion of the gall must be found by trying them; for there must be just so much as will suffer the spots of colour, when sprinkled on the solution of the gum-tragacanth, to join together, without intermixing or running into each other.

When everything is thus prepared, the solution of the gum-tragacanth must be poured into the trough; and the colours, being in a separate pot, with a pencil appropriated to each, must be sprinkled on the surface of the solution, by shaking the pencil, charged with its proper colour, over it; and this must be done with the several kinds of colour desired, till the surface be wholly covered.

When the marbling is proposed to be in spots of a simple form, nothing more is necessary; but where the whirls or snail-shell figures are wanted, they must be made by means of a quill; which must be put among the spots to turn them about, till the effect be produced. The jagged lengths must be made by means of the comb above described, which must be passed through the colours from one end of the trough to the other, and will give them that appearance: but if they be desired to be pointed both ways, the comb must be again passed through the trough in a contrary direction; or if some of the whirls or snail-shell figures be required to be added, they may be yet made by the means before directed.

The paper should be previously prepared for receiving the colours, by dipping it over-night in water; and laying the sheets on each other with a weight over them. The whole being thus ready, the paper must be held by two corners, and laid in the most gentle and even manner on the solution covered with the colours; and there softly pressed with the hand, that it may bear every-where on the solution. After which it must be raised and taken off with the same care, and then hung to dry across a proper cord, subtended near at hand for that purpose: and in that state it must continue till it be perfectly dry. It then remains only to give the paper a proper polish; in order to which, it is first rubbed with a little soap; and then must be thoroughly smoothed by the glass polishers, such as are used for linen, and called the calender glasser. After which it should be again rubbed by a burnisher of jasper or agate; or, in default of them, of glass ground to the highest polish: for on the perfect polish of the paper depends in a great measure its beauty and value.

Gold or silver powders may be used, where desired, along with the colour; and require only the same treatment as them, except that they must be first tempered with gum-water.

Marbling of books or paper is performed thus: Dissolve four ounces of gum-arabic into two quarts of fair water; then provide several colours mixed with water in pots or shells; and, with pencils peculiar to each, each colour, sprinkle them by way of intermixture upon the gum-water, which must be put into a trough or some broad-vessel; then with a stick curl them, or draw them out in streaks, to as much variety as may be done. Having done this, hold your book or books close together, and only dip the edges in, on the top of the water and colours, very lightly; which done, take them off, and the plain impression of the colours in mixture will be upon the leaves; doing as well the ends as the front of the book in the like manner.

Marbling a book on the covers is performed by forming clouds with aqua-fortis or spirit of vitriol mixed with ink, and afterwards glazing the covers. See the article Book-binding.

MARC-ANTONIO. See RAIMONDI.