An overview of the styles and history of oil painting in the 17th century to the mid 1700s.

While the title would suggest this is merely a work from an artistic view, it covers a variety of topics including how to work with gold and silver gilding, among others.

The book's interior cover page states:
> "wherein is included each particular
> circumstance relating to that art and
> mystery : containing the best and most
> approved rules for preparing, mixing,
> and working of oyl-colours : the whole
> treatise being so full compleat, and
> so exactly fitted to the meanest
> capacity, that all persons
> whatsoever, may be able by these
> directions, to paint in oyl-colours
> all manner of timber-work, such as
> posts, pails, palisadoes, gates,
> doors, or any thing else that requires
> either use, beauty, or preservation
> from the violence or injury of the
> weather : in which is also
> particularly laid down, all the
> several circumstances required in
> painting of sundials, printed
> pictures, shash-windows, &c. in
> oily-colours"