[1929] See B. xxxiii. c. [57].
[1930] See Chapter [39], where this process is more fully described. “‘Ceræ,’ or ‘waxes,’ was the ordinary term for painters’ colours among the Romans, but more especially encaustic colours, which were probably kept dry in boxes, and the wet brush or pencil was rubbed upon them when colour was required, or they were moistened by the artist previous to commencing work. From the term ‘ceræ’ it would appear that wax constituted the principal ingredient in the colouring vehicle used; but this does not necessarily follow, and it is very improbable that it did; there must have been a great portion of gum or resin in the colours, or they could not have hardened. Wax was undoubtedly a most essential ingredient, since it apparently prevents the colours from cracking. ‘Ceræ’ therefore might originally simply mean colours which contained wax, in contradistinction to those which did not; but was afterwards applied generally by the Romans to the colours of painters.”—Wornum, Smith’s Dict. Antiq. Art. Painting.
[1931] Called “Inceramenta navium,” in Livy, B. xxviii. c. 45. See also Chapters [39] and [41] of this Book.
[1932] Pliny here commits a mistake, which may have arisen from an imperfect recollection, as Sir. H. Davy has supposed, of a passage in Cicero (Brutus, c. 18), which, however, quite contradicts the statement of Pliny. “In painting, we admire in the works of Zeuxis, Polygnotus, Timanthes, and those who used four colours only, the figure and the lineaments; but in the works of Echion, Nicomachus, Protogenes, and Apelles, everything is perfect.” Indeed Pliny contradicts himself, for he speaks of two other colours used by the earliest painters, the testa trita, or ground earthenware, in Chapter [5] of this Book; and “cinnabaris,” or vermilion, in B. xxxiii. c. [36]. Also, in Chapter [21] of this Book he speaks of Eretrian earth as having been used by Nicomachus, and in Chapter [25] of ivory black as having been invented by Apelles.
[1933] These painters will all be noticed in Chapter [36].
[1934] See Chapter [19] of this Book.
[1935] See B. xxxiii. c. [56].
[1936] Blue is here excluded altogether, unless under the term “atramentum” we would include black and blue indicum, or in other words, Indian ink and indigo.
[1937] See Chapter [27] of this Book.
[1938] In allusion to “Dragon’s blood.” See B. xxxiii. c. [38].