| Bistre |
| Old Master drawings are
popularly identified with the handsome brown color of their ink. Formerly
these sheets were commonly described with the misnomer "sepia". It is usual
today to describe all such drawings as "pen and brown ink" or "brush and
brown wash", because, although a number of different inks were used, it is
difficult to distinguish between them. Of the two primary kinds of ink,
bistre presents more or less the original appearance at the time of use, and
iron-gall ink turns from black to brown with time.
Bistre was made from chimney soot dissolved
in wine, water, or a child's urine. A binder was not necessary. The color of
bistre varies with the wood from which the soot was derived, but in general
it has a warm, transparent brown tone. |
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by Michael Miller |
