ABSTRACT
House-painting being an art so conducive to the comfort, durability, and interior appearance of dwelling-houses, and, at the same time, so susceptible of improvement, it is surprising that those who follow it as a profession do not generally cultivate it with more assiduity and enthusiasm. The process of painting plaster-work is as follows: white lead and linseed oil, with a little litharge to facilitate the drying, are mixed together to about the consistency of thin cream; a coating of this being applied, the oil from it is sucked into the plaster in the course of a few hours, leaving the white lead apparently dry upon the surface. The flatting or finishing coat is composed entirely of paint; that is, of white lead, and the colouring ingredients mixed together, and ground in oil to an impalpable paste: this mixture is of a very thick consistency, and must be thinned with spirits of turpentine until it will flow easily from the brush.
