A PROCESS FOR EFFECT- ING THE REPRODUCTION OF OIL PAINTINGS ON PANELS, CANVAS, AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Bogaerts, of Bois-le-duc, in the Kingdom of
Holland, Printer and Publisher, for the Invention of "A PROCESS FOR EFFECT-
ING THE REPRODUCTION OF OIL PAINTINGS ON PANELS, CANVAS, AND OTHER
SURFACES."
Sealed the 22nd November 1878, and dated the 6th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Bogaerts at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th June 1878.
HENRI BOGAERTS, of Bois-le-duc, in the Kingdom of Holland, Printer and
Publisher. "A PROCESS FOR EFFECTING THE REPRODUCTION OF OIL PAINTINGS ON
PANELS, CANVAS, AND OTHER SURFACES."
My Invention consists of a process for effecting the reproduction of oil paintings
on panels, canvas, and other surfaces, whereby not only the various colours, tints,
shades, representations, and designs of the oil painting are faithfully reproduced, but
also the reliefs and depressions produced by the painter's brush.
The said process is as follows:-
Firstly. A drawing of the subject in outline on transfer tracing paper is made in
the ordinary way, as practised in the process of chromo-lithography; the said
outline drawing is transferred on to stone or zinc, and upon one of the proofs
obtained therefrom the different flat local tints of the oil painting are indicated.
Another of the said proofs, or others of the said proofs, is or are transferred to a
thin plate or thin plates of zine; parts of which zinc plate or plates are cut out to
form holes or open spaces corresponding in shape and position with the flat local
tints of the original painting. Gutta percha, india-rubber, or any other suitable
material is now pressed into the said holes or open spaces, and the material thus
impressed forms plates or blocks, by means of which the said flat local tints or
colours are by means of a printing press printed upon the panel, canvas, or surface
upon which the oil painting is to be reproduced.
In some cases the zinc plates herein-before referred to may be used as a "passe-
partout," or single plate or block. By the operation herein-before described the

page_text: panel, canvas, or other surface used is covered over with the various flat local tints
or colors on the oil painting.
Secondly. The different stones required for the reproduction of the painting and
the gradations of lights and shades are now prepared according to the chromo-
lithographic process, and an impression is taken from the said stones in transparent
colours upon paper prepared for the purpose by means of starch, gum, gelatine, and
varnish.
The colour printing is effected in the ordinary way, and not with the inner
colours outwards, as in the process generally known under the name of "decal-
comania," which would prevent the effect of the successive impressions being
appreciated. The proofs being terminated they are transferred by means of a
heated roller to a second paper, prepared as herein-before described.
Thirdly. An impression of the oil painting is taken in a solution of gelatine,
which reproduces the strokes or touches of the painter's brush and the different
reliefs and depressions of the painting. From this gelatine an impression is taken
in gutta percha, india-rubber, or other suitable material, which may be expanded or
contracted, as required, to suit the proportions to be given to. the reproduction of
the painting. By the process of electro-metallurgy a block or plate is obtained
which reproduces faithfully all the reliefs and depressions of the painting. This
block or plate, which is covered with a coating of iron, is heated, and then, by
means of a powerful press, is imprinted upon the panel or surface.
When a panel is used it is encased in an adjustable iron frame of the same height
as the panel, and closed on three of its sides, so that the panel fits into it exactly.
Two of the parallel sides of the said frame are provided each with a point; which
points correspond with the points of the lithographic press or printing press used,
whilst the third side of the said frame is provided with two small points on its
inner side, which points are made to penetrate into the side of the panel.
When the required impression has been made in the panel by means of the heated
plate or block herein-before described, the printed paper herein-before referred to
under the second head of this Invention is placed upon the points of the frame, and
by the application of heat and gentle pressure an impression of it is taken, the
colours on the panel then uniting and blending with those printed separately. The
points secure exactness in the position and the co-relation of all the parts. A
further impression of the block or plate is now effected upon the reliefs and
depressions already produced upon the panel by the pressure of the said block or
plate. The paper is then separated from the impression by means of a current of heat
produced by steam, and the picture is finished. If it should appear that some of the
tints or colours in the reproduction are not exactly similar to those on the original
painting other blocks or plates made of gutta percha, india-rubber, or other suitable
material, or passe-partouts, may be impressed upon the panel before the blending of
the colours has taken place.
It will be readily understood that the process herein-before described, more par-
ticularly in connection with the reproduction of oil paintings on panels, may be used
for the reproduction of oil paintings on canvas and other surfaces, and that the said
process is applicable to the reproduction of paintings of any size.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henri Bogaerts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th November
1878.
HENRI BOGAERTS, of Bois-le-duc, in the Kingdom of Holland, Printer and
Publisher. "A PROCESS FOR EFFECTING THE REPRODUCTION OF OIL PAINTINGS ON
PANELS, CANVAS, AND OTHER SURFACES."
1,
This Invention consists of a process for effecting the reproduction of oil paintings
on panels, canvas, and other surfaces, whereby not only the various colours, tints,
shades, representations, and designs of the oil painting are faithfully reproduced,
but also the reliefs and depressions which are produced in the said painting by the
painter's brush.
In carrying out the said Invention,―
Firstly. A drawing of the subject in outline on transfer tracing paper or gelatine is
made in the ordinary way, as practised in the process of chromo-lithography. The
said outline drawing is transferred on to stone or zinc, and upon one of the proofs
obtained therefrom the different flat local tints of the oil painting are indicated.
Another of the said proofs, or others of the said proofs, is or are transferred to a
thin plate or thin plates of zine; parts of which zinc plate or plates are cut out to
form holes or open spaces corresponding in shape and position with the flat local
tints of the original painting. Gutta percha, india-rubber, or any other suitable
material is now pressed into the said holes or open spaces, and the material thus
impressed forms plates or blocks, by means of which the said flat local tints or
colours are by means of a printing press printed upon the panel, canvas, or surface
upon which the oil painting is to be reproduced.
In some cases the zinc plates herein-before referred to may be used as a "passe-
partout," or single plate or block. By the operation herein-before described the
panel, canvas, or other surface used is covered over with the various flat local tints
or colours on the oil painting. When the reproduction of the oil painting is to be
larger or smaller than the original oil painting the outline drawing of the subject
on tracing paper, herein-before described, is reproduced by the photographic process
on a sheet of india-rubber extended upon an adjustable sliding frame, such as is used
in embroidery, and by means of the said sliding frame the said sheet of india-rubber
with the photographic representation upon it may be enlarged or contracted as
required; a tracing is then taken from the enlarged or contracted photographic
representation upon the india-rubber, and the process is continued as herein-before
described.
Secondly. The different stones required for the reproduction of the oil painting
and the gradations of lights and shades are now prepared according to the chromo-
lithographic process, and an impression is taken from the said stones in transparent
colours upon paper prepared for the purpose as follows:-Good unsized paper or
pasteboard is taken, and by means of a sponge or otherwise is covered over with a
coating of boiled starch of good quality in a liquid state, which is allowed to dry;
the starch is then covered over with a light coating of gum, and when the gum is
dried it is varnished over, and when the varnish is dried the prepared paper or
pasteboard is glazed in a suitable press, and is then ready for use.
The colour printing upon the prepared paper or pasteboard is effected in the
ordinary way, and not with the inner colours outwards, as in the process generally
known under the name of "decalcomania," which would prevent the effect of the
successive impressions being appreciated. The proofs being terminated they are
transferred by means of a heated roller on to a second paper or pasteboard, prepared
as herein-before described.
Thirdly. An impression of the oil painting is taken in a solution of gelatine,
which reproduces the strokes or touches of the painter's brush, and the different

page_text: reliefs and depressions of the painting. From this gelatine an impression is taken
in gutta percha or india-rubber, from which, by the well-known process of electro-
metallurgy, a block or plate is obtained, which block or plate faithfully reproduces
all the reliefs and depressions of the painting. The said block or plate, which is
coated with iron, is then heated, and by means of a powerful press is imprinted
upon the panel or surface. Or when the reproduction of the painting is to be
larger or smaller than the original a thin sheet of gutta percha or india-rubber is
extended upon an adjustable sliding frame, as herein-before described in reference
to the process of enlargement or contraction described under the first head of this
Invention.
An impression of the oil painting is taken in gelatine mixed with a chromic alkali
and glycerine. While the said mixture is still warm it is poured on to the oil
painting, and when it has taken the impression of the said painting it is placed
upon the sheet of india-rubber or gutta percha herein-before described, and it
adheres to it at once. By means of the sliding frame above mentioned the india-
rubber or gutta percha sheet with the elastic gelatine mixture upon it is expanded
or contracted to the required proportions; it is then allowed to dry; an impression
is then taken from it in india-rubber or gutta percha, from which, by the process of
electro-metallurgy, is obtained the iron-coated block or plate, which being heated is
imprinted on the panel or surface, as herein-before described.
When a panel is used it is encased in an adjustable iron frame of the same height
as the panel, and closed on three of its sides, so that the panel fits into it exactly.
Two of the parallel sides of the said frame are provided each with a point, which
points correspond with the points of the lithographic press or printing press used,
whilst the third side of the said frame is provided with two small points on its
inner side, which points are made to penetrate into the sides of the panel.
When the required impression has been made in the panel by means of the
heated plate or block herein-before described the printed paper herein-before referred
to under the second head of this Invention is placed upon the points of the frame,
and by the application of heat and gentle pressure an impression of it is taken, the
colours on the panel then uniting and blending with those printed separately. The
points secure exactness in the position and co-relation of all the parts. A further
impression of the block or plate is now effected upon the reliefs and depressions
already produced upon the panel by the pressure of the said block or plate. The
paper is then separated from the impression by means of a current of heat produced
by steam, and the picture is finished. If it should appear that some of the tints or
colours in the reproduction are not exactly similar to those on the original painting
other blocks or plates made of gutta percha, india-rubber, or other suitable material,
or passe-partouts, may be impressed upon the panel before the blending of the
colours has taken place.
It will be readily understood that the process herein-before described, more par-
ticularly in connection with the reproduction of oil paintings on panels, may be
used for the reproduction of oil paintings on canvas and other surfaces, and that
the said process is applicable to the reproduction of paintings of any size. I purpose
calling my process "Bogaerts's Painting Process."
I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The process or combination of processes, herein-before described, for
reproducing oil paintings on panels, canvas, and other surfaces, essentially as
described.
Secondly. The process for reproducing on panels or other surfaces the strokes or
touches of the painter's brush, and the different reliefs and depressions of oil
paintings, essentially as herein-before described, that is to say, by taking an
impression of the oil painting in gelatine or a mixture of gelatine, chromic alkali,
and glycerine, and taking an impression from the said gelatine or mixture of
gelatine in india-rubber or gutta percha, or other suitable material, and obtaining
therefrom, by the process of electro-mettallurgy, a plate or block coated with iron,

page_text: which plate or block being heated and imprinted on the panel or surface by means
of a press reproduces the said strokes or touches of the painter's brush, and the
reliefs and depressions of the oil painting.
Thirdly. The preparation of the paper or pasteboard by means of starch, gum,
gelatine, and varnish, as herein-before described, for the purpose of receiving upon
it the colour printing from the lithographer's stones, and of transferring it by the
aid of a heated cylinder to a second paper or pasteboard similarly prepared, which
paper or pasteboard is used to transfer the colours to the panel or surface upon
which the reproduction of the oil painting is to be effected.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Bogaerts, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRI BOGAERTS. (LS)