Appendix E: Examination, Bethlehem Female Seminary, 1801

Shelf: 4-F
Box: Early Student Examinations. Lessons. & Dialogues 1785-1849
Folder: Examination 1801
Moravian Archives. Bethlehem. Pennsylvania

Spelling, capitalization, and punctuation of the original have been preserved. Reproduced from Appendix E (pp. 444-446) Winkelman, R. J. (1990). Art education in the non-public schools of Pennsylvania, 1720-1870 (90-32395) [Doctoral dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University].

A. Pratt Let us speak of Painting

A. Alston Well–Painting is the Art of presenting all Manner of Objects by Lines and Colours, on an even & uniform Surface.

H. Hooker This Art has been deservedly held in the highest Estimation, even in the rudest Ages; & as Nations have advanced in Civilization & Politeness This Art has been proportionly cultivated.

L. Tucker Who can tell, how this art is divided?

E. Christie Into 6 Parts: the Design, the Proportion, the expression, the Clair-obscure, the Ordonnance & the Colours.

H. Olmstead What Design, Proportion, Expression & Colouring are, I believe, we all know. But, what strange Terms are those of Clair-obscure & Ordonnance?

S. Dover My Friend, You put the same Question I did only a few days since: When I was informed that by clair-obscure is meant nothing else than the Art of distributing the Light & Shadows of a Piece, both with Regard to easing the Eye, & heightening the Effect of the whole composition.

A. Monell And what is Ordonnance?

A. Alston The Disposition of the Parts of a Picture either with Regard to the whole Piece, or the several Parts.

L. Tucker Are there not various kinds of Painting?

E. Christie There is Oil, which consists in grinding the Colours with Nut or Linseed Oil, By this means, the colours of a Picture are preserved much longer, & receive a Lustre which the Ancients could never attain to, what ever Varnish they made use of to cover their Pieces, these Pictures—are painted thus.

S. Dover Water Colours has the Colours mixed with Water only, or Sometimes a little size added; & it is a much more ancient Art than Painting in Oil. This is the Kind of Painting we are taught.—Here is a Specimen—

L. Papineau Pray, what do you mean by Size?

S. Dover A glutinous Substance, like Gum.

H. Hooker Fresco, is a kind of Painting with Water colours on Fresh Plaster or on a Wall laid with Mortar not yet dry; so that incorporated with the Mortar, & drying along with it, the Colours, become extremely durable

S. Schropp I believe it

S. Dover Distemper is another Term for Painting

S. Pratt Distemper? Pray explain! For I never heard it used unless for a Sickness.

G. Walsh Paintings that have the Colours mixed with Size, Whites of Eggs, or any such proper glutinous or unctuous substance, but not with Oil, go by this Term.

E. Mackay That Miniature is, You all know.

H. Olmshed It is a delicate kind of Painting, consisting of little Points or Dots, instead of lines, & done with thin Watercolours.—See here—

S. Schopp There is a Species of Painting also called Encaustic. This is done with burnt Wax; & consists in applying Watercolours upon a Coating of Bees-wax; when the Picture is dry, it is put near a Flame, whereby the wax melts, & absorbs all the colours.

A. Hechewelder How curious!

L. Backus Enamel, is a Method of painting with Enamels

R. Vierling What mean you by them?

L. Backus Metalline Colours, ground, reduced to Powder, & used like other Colours with a Pencil, then fused, or melted, baked again, & vitrified by Force of Fire.

A. Monell Pray, what means vitrified?

L. Bachus A changing into Glass.

S. Dover But there is also a kind of glass painting somewhat similar to Enamel; the Colours being incorporated with the Glass itself, by exposing them to a proper Degree of Fire.

R. Pooles Will You please to give us those beautiful Lines of Poetry, on a very descriptive Piece of Painting?

[then a poem]

E. Walsh Embroidery should neither be forgotten—it is a pleasing & amusing Art—we all love it; & among us ought to go Hand in Hand with Painting. In ancient Times already there were Ladies, who excelled in it. This, as well as every other Art, reaches additional Beauty from Time to Time. Is not this a beautiful Specimen of Embroidery?

All It is.

L. Schropp Thanks to the Geniuses, who invented such excellent Arts!

E. Mackay Indeed! but more Thanks to Him, who gave them the Talents for such a good Employment.

All You are right!

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[Excerpt from geography portion of the examination by 4th class S. E. Stots]

Q: What nation excels all others in the fine arts?

A: The Germans.