Fig. 681. Farthingale, temp. Elizabeth.

Vardingale, O. E. The farthingale or hooped petticoat of Elizabeth’s reign, fig. 681.

“Supporters, postures, farthingales,

Above the loins to wear,

That, be she ne’er so slender, yet

She cross-like seems four square.”

(Warner, in Albion’s England.)

Varnishes are made by dissolving resins or gum-resins in alcohol, ether, &c., so that as the spirit evaporates the varnish dries down into a transparent film; varnishes are coloured with aloes, annotto, cochineal, dragon’s blood, gamboge, indigo, red saunders, saffron, or turmeric. Amber varnish is hardest and most durable in colour, but dries very slowly. Animé varnish dries quickly, but is liable to crack, and deepens in colour with exposure to the air. Copal ranks next to amber in durability, and the varnish becomes lighter by exposure; the best copal varnishes are slow in drying unless mixed with animé. Mastic is a favourite spirit varnish used as a picture varnish and for delicate works of a pale colour. Damar mixed with mastic makes an appropriate varnish for maps and similar work. The qualities to be sought in varnishes for a painting are that they should resist damp, exclude air, and not injure the colour. (See also Italian varnish, Strasburg turpentine, &c.)

Vas, R. A vase. Any kind of vessel, e.g. Vasa Corinthia, Vasa Deliaca, Vasa Samia, Murrhina, &c. The manufacture and ornamentation of vases was one of the most important branches of Classical Art. Illustrations of vases are found in this work under:

Fig.
Acratophorum7
Amphora20
Arezzo Vase37
Aryballos46
Bifrons85
Cantharus132
Cylix232
Ecuelle278
Egyptian279
Funeral Urn340
Hydria391
Chinese Vase406
Lecythus422
Nuremberg491
Oinochoe498
Valentia678