The combined training and experience of the authors of this classic in the varied activities of painting conservation; cultural research; chemistry; physics; and paint technology ideally suited them to the task they attempted. Their book; written when they were both affiliated with the Department of Conservation at Harvards Fogg Art Museum; is not a handbook of instruction. It is; instead; an encyclopedic collection of specialized data on every aspect of painting and painting research.The book is divided into five sections: Mediums; Adhesives; and Film Substances (amber; beeswax; casein; cellulose; nitrate; dragons blood; egg tempera; paraffin; lacquer; gum Arabic; Strasbourg turpentine; water glass; etc.); Pigments and Inert Materials (over 100 entries from alizarin to zinnober green); Solvents; Diluents; and Detergents (acetone; ammonia; carbon tetrachloride; soap; water; etc.); Supports (academy board; dozens of different woods; esparto grass; gesso; glass; leather; plaster; silk; vellum; etc.); and Tools and Equipment.Coverage within each section is exhaustive. Thirteen pages are devoted to items related to linseed oil; eleven to the history and physical and chemical properties of pigments; two to artificial ultramarine blue; eleven to wood; and so on with hundreds of entries. Much of the information mdash; physical behavior; earliest known use; chemical composition; history of synthesis; refractive index; etc. mdash; is difficult to find elsewhere. The rest was drawn from such a wide range of fields and from such a long span of time that the book was immediately hailed as the best organized; most accessible work of its kind.That reputation hasnt changed. The authors new preface lists some recent discoveries regarding pigments and other materials and the pigment composition chart has been revised; but the text remains essentially unchanged. It is still invaluable not only for museum curators and conservators for whom it was designed; but for painters themselves and for teachers and students as well.
#1479510 in eBooks 2012-09-26 2012-09-26File Name: B00A7368UG
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. What a helpful book!By AlThe problem with having to rate this now is that [a] I am not done reading it; and [b] I have not fully figgered out the camera. HOWEVER; I will say that this book has been incredibly helpful as far as Ive gone so far. Its discussions are superior to some of the babble written by lab techs in some other country!It IS a fine camera and the book has been quite helpful in picking out all kinds of fine points about the EOS-6Ds most efficient use. Ive liked it up until now and Im sure; as I read the second half of the book; it will enlighten me more about the camera. Besides; itll always be "right there" on my shelf when I need some fine tuning.Some might be turned off by the "for Dummies" part of the title; but theyve all been very helpful to me!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great publication for someone who has some prior knowledge of digital photographyBy Miles J. AndersonI have only had this publication for a short period of time so my evaluation is based on limited use. I bought this book to use as reference and additional resource to the documentation I received with my camera. The thing I like most about Canon EOS 6D for Dummies is the way it it is organized. I can pick a specific feature of the camera that I want to master and go to that section of the book and learn what I need. So far I have found the information to be right on the money.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great book to introduce you to your new Canon EOS 6DBy ChrisAs all "Dummies" guides; this one is a complete reference to the camera. Hits all aspects of the cameras operation in clear and concise descriptions and detailed instructions and lots of illustrations.