“ We may now easily understand why purple has been accepted as the Church's mourning colour. Although so beautiful when represented in the clearness of stained glass, purple is but little used in large illuminations, excepting sometimes as a ground-colour; chiefly, perhaps, because so difficult to produce in a sufficiently bright, pure tint, as compared to the red and blue.
White.
White is essentially the emblem of light and saintly purity. Of the first, because the finest light is white ”

“ In proceeding to draw the outline of a text, it is a most useful practice to sketch it out roughly on tissue-paper, in order to ascertain what space it will occupy. This plan will prevent much disappointment (and rubbing out, which should be carefully avoided) , as, even after long practice, we are often mistaken in the supposed length of a printed sentence: nothing can look worse than one-half of the letters spread widely over the scroll, and the rest crowded together, to make up for the room wasted at the beginning. ”

“ Gold is of the highest value. It should be employed only for the letters forming the names of The Holy Trinity, or Their attributes. For the sake of distinctness, however, the gold must be either edged with blue or red, or the whole word may be placed on a tablet of colour. Sprays of fleurs-de-lys, &c. in red, twining between, but not over the letters, will also assist in making them distinct and marked.
In words referring to Heaven or Angels, gold stars or dots sprinkled over the letters are appropriate.
Capitals should be edged entirely, or grounded, with gold. ”

“ In conclusion, it cannot be too strictly enforced, that every line, straight or curved, should be firmly drawn, and the edges, in painting, be kept perfectly neat and clear. Whether from unsteadiness in outline, or from a shaking hand when painting (especially in gold) , nine-tenths of the amateur illuminations produced have a quivering ruggedness about them which could well be dispensed with. ”

“ The blue of ecclesiastical colouring is always dark and intense.
Purple is the term of most doubtful signification, being frequently applied to crimson, scarlet, and blue. The famous "Tyrian purple" was manufactured from the juice of shell-fish,—principally the Murex trunculus of Linnæus and Lamarck,—and was compared by Pliny to "the rich, fresh, and bright colour of deep-red purple roses." The same writer observes, that "violet, purple, and scarlet, were nowhere dyed so well as at Tyre, whose shores abounded with the best kinds of purples." ”

“ The precise tints of the colours mentioned in the Holy Scriptures must ever be a subject of doubt, but enough can be gathered from ancient writings to bring them within certain degrees of probability. ”

“ In proceeding to paint the letters, squeeze out a small quantity of the colour on to the wooden palette, and with the flexible palette-knife mix it with a little of the pale drying oil, and a very little spirits of turpentine. The latter can be dispensed with, if the smell of it be found injurious; otherwise it contributes to brighten the colours, and makes them dry more quickly. In painting keep the brush full, laying on the colour in long steady sweeps, not in short, hasty touches, which would leave irregularities of surface. ”

“ Paint all the black in the scroll first, the red next, and, if German blue, blue last, as, with every precaution, it is apt to rub—in which case, remove the blemishes with crumbs of bread. If the text should consist of two lines, finish the upper one first (all but the gold) , to prevent injury to the lower one by rubbing. Fresh water should be provided for each colour, in order to preserve its brightness.
Bessemer's gold paint may be applied last of all, but leaf-gold should be laid on before any colour. ”

“ Then, with a large, dry brush, in light, sharp touches, brush away the superfluous gold, and the work is completed.
There are other methods of applying gold-leaf, but this is given as the simplest. A gilder's tip (a flat brush) is generally used, but requires skill in handling, which remark applies also to the gilder's palette and knife.
Any corners to which the gold has not adhered may be retouched with the size, and gilded as before. Be careful not to touch the gold with the fingers, or it will be quite spoilt. If the leaf curls up upon the paper, it can be blown down with a gentle breath. ”

“ Outlines should not be drawn upon the zinc in the first instance, but upon a strip of paper (which may be several sheets pasted together at the edges) , wider than the scroll, so that it may be folded firmly over it, and the letters traced, as already explained (page 7) . Any thin common paper answers for this purpose: tissue would be too thin. Tracing is recommended, because the process of erasing pencil-marks, although easily effected with spirits of turpentine, is apt to leave a smear, and spoils the smooth clearness of the foundation-colour. ”

“ It has been already remarked that the emphasis of a text is expressed in two ways—by prefixing capital letters to the principal words, and also by distinction of colour. On the due attention to a few simple rules respecting the value of certain colours, and their just application, much of the beauty of an illuminated work depends. ”

“ Silver is sold in shells; a water-colour, but it quickly tarnishes.
Aluminium.
Aluminium is sold in shells (a water-colour) , and is a good substitute for silver; although not equal in beauty, it is said not to tarnish. Being a recent discovery, it has not yet had the test of long experience. Aluminium is used in touches upon white flowers, or the emblem of the dove, previously softly shaded with neutral tint. These shell metals cost about 6d. and upwards.
Saucers.
Saucers, 2 inches in diameter, should be procured for the red and blue powder colours. ”

“ The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the Father. The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God.
[22] The second half of this letter forms U.
[23] This letter is given in reduced size, being most useful together with the M; it will be found to correspond in height with the alphabet of small letters, which are proportioned to any of the foregoing emblematic capitals, excepting the G and T. The pronouns My and Me, when referring to the Deity, should always be in capitals, the second of which may be of smaller dimensions. ”

“ The foundation-colour should either match the tint of the wall to which the scroll will be affixed, or present a decided contrast. Care must be taken in matching the colour of a plastered wall, that the paint should be lighter in tint, as it has a tendency to darken, while the plaster is likely to become rather lighter, especially in new buildings. ”

“ Zinc can be procured of any ordinary plumber, at an average price of 10d. per square foot; it requires no particular preparation for illuminating, excepting a foundation-colour (or ground) , which can be laid on by any house-painter far better than by the amateur. This should be done at the workshop, as the smell of so large a body of paint would be very injurious to those unaccustomed to it. ”

“ The Pelican wounding her own breast to feed her young ones was an ancient symbol of the Great Sacrifice. One or both of these last-named emblems are frequently met with in ancient crosses or crucifixes, the lamb at the foot, and the pelican at the top of the cross.
The Good Shepherd, carrying a sheep, is also an ancient emblem.
Swords.
The Sword is an emblem varying in signification according to the sharpness of its point. ”

“ Let it be considered not as a trivial, passing amusement, but, while in practice, as a grave and steady occupation—one to which you are in duty bound, if you undertake it at all, to give your very best attention. No work of yours—nor of any human hand—can be worthy of the subject ”

“ Lastly, let your work be as perfect as you can possibly make it, and if the result be pleasing, render thanks to Him who hath bestowed on you the precious talent, and from Whom all good gifts do come. ”

“ On a dark-coloured ground the following method is pursued. Draw the text, as usual, on common cartridge-paper (3 or 4 inches wider than the zinc, so that the edges may be turned down firmly over it) : with pointed scissors cut the letters out and put them aside, as they are not required: lay the remaining paper-groundwork on the zinc, and with red or white tailor's pipe-clay trace carefully round the outlines of the spaces which form the letters. When all are traced, remove the paper, and with a handkerchief brush away, very lightly, the superfluous chalk. ”

“ That with an acute point is the sword of justice; with the point obtuse, the sword of religion; with no point, the sword of mercy. The flaming sword typifies Divine vengeance.
Fish.
The Fish is one of the very earliest symbols of our Divine Lord. The five letters of the Greek word for a fish (ΙΧΘΥΣ) make the initials (in Greek) of the following sentence—Jesus Christ, God's Son, the Saviour (Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς Θεοῦ Υἱὸς Σωτήρ) . "In this sense," Mrs. Jameson informs us, "we find the fish as a general symbol of the Christian faith upon the sarcophagi of early Christians ”

“ In a text composed entirely of capitals, the size of the letters should be about half the depth of the zinc: the latter being 6 inches, including the border, the capitals would be 3 inches high. Small letters would bear, of course, their usual proportion, as in other illuminations. | Distinctness.| It is quite a mistaken idea that the larger the printing, the plainer will be the text; clearness is rather attained by keeping the letters close to each other, and leaving a sufficient space between each word. ”

“ The ornamental stop—or perhaps a Greek cross—and any other intended additions, should be traced now. When the hand and eye are a little practised, sprays of trefoil and similar decorations will look more natural and easy, if drawn freshly upon the scroll. Triplets of leaves and berries have a graceful and suitable effect, and these, in illuminations, may be drawn conventionally, rather than naturally. A clever writer [6] says, "Rigidly avoid contrasting natural with conventional foliage. Adopt which you like, for by either beautiful effects may be produced ”

“ Water-gold Size.
Leaf-gold is considered the most durable, is beautifully bright, and repays the trouble of its application. A "book" containing 25 leaves costs 1s. 6d., or 100 leaves for 4s. Water-gold size seems to be the simplest preparation, 1s. 6d. per box. This size is used like a moist colour, with water. Paint the surface to be gilded, smoothly and rather thickly, carefully preserving the edges 10 clear and sharp. |Gold-leaf.| Let it stand until, on touching the size lightly with the finger, it is found to be sticky, but not moist, so as to smear. ”

“ Now, with the HB, rule two lines for the small letters, as lightly as possible, consistently with clearness, as these are afterwards to be rubbed out. There is no occasion to draw an upper line for the capitals, as they should be traced in: unless the hand be a very practised one, this method is necessary, to avoid much disfigurement of the cardboard from corrections. ”

“ With a large, sharp pair of scissors, cut both paper and gold-leaf into a piece rather larger than the surface to be gilded, and the size being just sticky, lay the gold down upon it, keeping the paper still in its place ”

“ Rules for Drawing the Outline.
Having decided on the size of the initial [3] and capital letters, allow a sufficient space above and below them, and cut out the strip of cardboard by a ruled line, measured accurately at each end, so 7 that the width throughout shall be equal. [4] The spaces left above and below the capitals may be equal (if for one line only) , but rather less below than otherwise; 11⁄2 to 2 inches [5] is a fair proportion. ”

“ The best and most recent collection of letters that I have met with is The Handbook of Alphabets, Initials, and Monograms, engraved by William Gibbs, published by Houlston & Wright, 65 Paternoster Row, London, price 5s.
Value and use of Capitals.
In arranging for the outline of a text, first select the necessary capitals. The initial (or first letter) must be the handsomest of all, as being the introduction and |Dedication.| dedication of the work to The Blessed Trinity. Capitals are generally employed throughout the Sacred Names ”

“ Rulers.
2 Rulers (flat) ; one of wood, about two feet long, another of bone, 6 inches; 6d. each (ivory, 2s..) .
A T-ruler is very useful; 1s. and upwards.
Portfolio.
A portfolio, 2 feet by 10 inches, to hold the scrolls, would be useful in preserving them from injury; cost, at the drawing-shops, 3s. 6d.
A list of the necessary paints will be given in the directions for colouring, page 9.
Alphabets (capitals) .
The beginner should endeavour to obtain one or two sheets of alphabets (capitals) in black and white, of the full size required, say about two inches high.
Lower-case (small letters) . ”