Encaustic Materials and Methods ― A Facsimile Edition

Out-of-print for more than 60 years and extremely rare, Frances Pratt and Becca Fizell’s Encaustic Materials and Methods, first published in 1949, is considered one of the most important studies of encaustic materials and the artists who use them, and continues to be a valuable resource to any artist interested in this extraordinary medium. Beginning their survey of the practice of painting with wax in ancient Egypt, and as it passed to the Greeks and Romans, Pratt and Fizell go on to different practices current in 18th and 19th century Europe, including detailed discussions of materials and techniques. What is most interesting, though, is their sampling of then-contemporary practice from 18 artists working in the medium, with very detailed formulas, notes and comments from each artist. This new facsimile edition is an exact photographic replica of the text made from a copy of the book in very good condition. It also includes facsimiles of several never-before published archival biographical documents by Frances Pratt, and color reproductions of 5 of the art works originally in Encaustic Materials and Methods. Notes and commentary by Kassandra Kelly, Randal Davis and Virginia Howard.