Improvements in or relating to Panels or Paintings.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Panels or
Paintings.
"
Canvases for Fresco
We, CHARLES RICHARD GUY HALL, of 12 Lower Phillimore Place, Kensington,
Architect, and EDWIN LUCAS, Contractor, of St. James' House, Kensington Square,
both in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The cement on which our paintings are made is composed of a mixture of ground
Tufa stone a natural volcanic product Portland or other cement, and lime, and we have
found that slabs formed of these materials are very liable especially when they are of
large size to crack when moved and that therefore there is very great risk in
committing to them a valuable painting.
The object of this invention is to form a rigid framework or equivalent which the
cement slab may be built up, and for this purpose we form a framework of wood, zino
or other suitable material to the shape of the slab and preferably give it additional
strength by forming across it diagonal or other strips.
The frames will form a firm base, and when the slabs are moved will relieve the
strain, and prevent the liability of their sagging in the middle and cracking.
Across the framework or equivalent is stretched a piece of woven wire gauze of
preferably narrow mesh or other suitable canvas.
In forming a slab the cement in a plastic state is poured onto the wire gauze and a
sufficient quantity of the cement escapes through the interstices of the netting to form
when set keys to retain the cement. The slabs may be formed entirely of the
ingredients mentioned or the first layer may be formed of cement, coarse grit and cow
or goat's hair or other substances, and the second or subsequent layer or layers solely
of the cement mentioned above.
The frames or panels described above can be adapted to slabs of all sizes but they
are especially suitable to slabs of considerable length and breadth as small slabs can
be moved without the same risk and when painted upon can be set in suitable frames
for mural or other decoration; the larger slabs can also be framed and both large and
small slabs can be either hung upon or fixed against a wall or other suitable
structure.
It will be obvious that other forms of panels or
will answer our purpose.
"
canvases than those described
If desired the slabs may be glazed by any suitable means.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Panels or
Paintings.
66 Canvases" for Fresco
We, CHARLES RICHARD GUY HALL, of 12 Lower Phillimore Place, Kensington,
Architect, and EDWIN LUCAS, Contractor, of St. James' House, Kensington Square, both
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
Until comparatively recently it was customary to paint frescoes on the wall or
surface which it was desired to decorate, but we have found that paintings can be
committed much more readily and easily to slabs of a specially prepared cement.
D

page_text: The cement which we employ for our fresco paintings is composed of a mixture of
ground Tufa stone, a natural volcanic product, Portland or other cement and ground
lime, but we have found in practice that slabs formed of these materials are very liable
to crack or be broken in transit, and that there is therefore considerable risk in
committing to them a valuable painting. The object of the present invention is to
provide a suitable frame in which the slabs or panels may be fixed so that the risk of
their being damaged is reduced to a minimum.
The framework is shaped to fit the slab and may be made of wood, zinc or other
suitable material.
We have found in practice that cement slabs or panels when cast in large sizes.are
too heavy to be portable and if made sufficiently thin and cast in ordinary frames are
liable owing to their weight to sag in their middle and crack, and we have overcome
this objection by forming diagonal braces across the back of the frames giving them
additional strength and affording a larger resting surface for the wire upon which the
cement is cast. Across the framework or equivalent is stretched a piece of woven
wire of preferably small mesh or other suitable canvas. In forming a panel or canvas
the cement is floated in a plastic condition onto the wire and a sufficient quantity of
the cement escapes through the interstices to form when set a key to bind the cement
to the wirework. The slabs or panels may be either formed entirely of the ingredients
mentioned above or the first layer may be formed of cement and coarse grit with or
without cow or goat's hair, or other substances, and the second or subsequent layer or
layers solely of the cement mentioned above. Either of these methods will give good
results but we have found in practice that by employing the last mentioned materials
the slab is more firmly bound to the frame.
When the cement has become set in the frames they are allowed to thoroughly dry
and are then well brushed and are ready to receive the painting and can be placed
upon an artist's easel and moved from place to place without the risk of the cement
cracking or being otherwise damaged as has hitherto been the case.
It will be readily understood that these frames can be made of all sizes, but they are
especially suitable for panels or canvases of considerable length and breadth, as small
ones can be moved without the same risk and when painted upon can be set in suitable
frames for mural or other decoration.
It is obvious that other frames than those described will answer the purpose and for
small sizes we have used glass backings instead of wire. In using glass it is first
painted with a coat of thick oil colour and whilst this is wet it is sprinkled with coarse
grit; this dries with the paint and forms a good key upon which the final coat of
cement is floated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The employment of frames for supporting cement slabs or panels substantially as
specified.
2. The complete cement slab or panel substantially as specified.
3. The combination substantially as specified of a cement and gauze panel and
frame.
4. The combination substantially as specified of a cement and glass panel and
frame.
Dated this 20th day of March 1890.
CHARLES R. GUY HALL.
EDWIN LUCAS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.