276: Re: Seeking traditional gesso recipe

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Re: Seeking traditional gesso recipe

In Reply to: Re: Seeking traditional gesso recipe posted by rob howard on 06/09/00 at 11:20 PM:

Thanks, Rob, for the response. I suspect there is some problem with the term "gesso" -- I agree that traditional gesso is brittle, but with the term "acrylic gesso" I tend to use it interchangeably for "a white ground" whether referring to panels or linen. Your suggestion is a good one, although of course not what one wants to hear in the middle of an 8 month painting sabbatical, especially since I work on my paintings for several months. Perhaps a better term for what I am seeking is "oil priming," a recipe for a mixture of pigment, binder, drier, and filler. Any suggestions?

I have located an interesting book an interesting book here in France, "Le Métier du Peintre" by Pierre Garcia, published by Dessain et Tolra 1990. Five hundred pages of rather rambling but very thorough consideration of painting techniques ancient and modern with plates. I understand there is an abridged version for studio use -- this volume is a bit cumbersome because topics are introduced, discussed, and practical suggestions given in three separate sections, which I find more exhausting than exhaustive. Here is his recipe for a supple oil base:

lead white 80
linseed oil 14
siccative (siccatif de courtrai) 2
chalk 20

Proportions in whatever units one cares to use - application with a brush or glue spatula ( a "sabre d'encollage - actually a large blade for applying coats of glue or grounds in an extremely smooth layer, and apparently the instrument of choice in the 17th and 18th centuries). Avoid applying high multiple coats; if coats are extremely thin no more than 4 or 5 are recommended as the preparation is heavy and can fatigue or crack the linen. Do not sand, even though this was recommended by earlier authors, because of the extreme toxitiy of aerosol lead. Let the preparation dry completely (at least three weeks). Apply only over a layer of glue on good quality natural cloth. (Summarized from 11 pages of French!)

I shall try this for the linens I am preparing at the moment, but continue to welcome reports for people who have had good results from other preparations.