Painting History

The earliest known appearance of paint pigments (paint of color) in seventeenth century New England occurs in conjunction with distemper and related paints. The upstairs hall chamber of the Eleazer Gedney House (1664), 21 High St., Salem, MA. Reveals successive color transformations, all designed to pick out or highlight certain exposed structural members of the interior frame. The earliest color was green formed by mixing yellow ochre and charcoal black and calcite. Traces of copper suggest that some copper green was used to reinforce the optical green created by combining yellow and black. Also found was a red plaster.

The paint was pigments and plaster combined with gum. Not slaked lime as usually used in whitewashes. This was an unusual type of distemper. Because these colors were previously assumed to be some sort of whitewash, the absence of lime and the presence of plaster raise many questions. The optical (rather than the chemical) green is not unknown, as Rembrant is said to have used it. But the fine arts are no source for the plaster and gum.

The most common early eighteenth-century freehand decoration is that often called “sponge-painting”. A well known example is preserved in the upper entry of the William Boardman House, 17 Howard St., Saugus, MA. The house is dated 1687 but the decoration was placed probably in the early 1700s. The surface was prepared with a ground of whitewash tinted with yellow, over which a series of “dots” about one and a quarter inch in diameter were painted in lampblack about 3 or 4 inches apart. They were dabbed on with a sponge like agent.

Ready Mixed Paints

As nearly as can be determined, the earliest successful ready-mixed oil paint produced in America was green. 1866, John Lucas and Company, Philadelphia. It was used on shutters and iron ornamental work. In short, green, because of its universal application, was the most promising color for a manufacturer testing the market. It was sold in cans of 1, 2, 3, and 4 lbs. weight.

Problem was though, inadequate grinding and mixing techniques, and short shelf life. (This brought on the need to invent resealable cans) The cans were needed as the manufacture wanted to sell to the consumer rather than the professional painter. (seems that way today with most paint products still!)

In 1876 the Averill Chemical Paint Company issued a range of ready mixed colors, and its sample card. About 30 colors.

Prior to this, the home owner had to hire a professional painter as they had the “recipes” and training and materials. Most of the pigments were poisonous and you also had to grind lead which caused a lot of disease in painters of that era. The pro painter back then would paint house interior and exterior, knew how to marble and grain, made signs, painted carriages and varnished.


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			The earliest known appearance of paint pigments (paint of color) in seventeenth century New England occurs in conjunction with distemper and related paints. The upstairs hall chamber of the Eleazer Gedney House (1664), 21 High St., Salem, MA. Reveals successive color transformations, all designed to pick out or highlight certain exposed structural members of the interior frame. The earliest color was green formed by mixing yellow ochre and charcoal black and calcite. Traces of copper suggest that some copper green was used to reinforce the optical green created by combining yellow and black. Also found was a red plaster. The paint was pigments and plaster combined with gum. Not slaked lime as usually used in whitewashes. This was an unusual type of distemper. Because these colors were previously assumed to be some sort of whitewash, the absence of lime and the presence of plaster raise many questions. The optical (rather than the chemical) green is not unknown, as Rembrant is said to have used it. But the fine arts are no source for the plaster and gum. The most common early eighteenth-century freehand decoration is that often called “sponge-painting”. A well known example is preserved in the upper entry of the William Boardman House, 17 Howard St., Saugus, MA. The house is dated 1687 but the decoration was placed probably in the early 1700s. The surface was prepared with a ground of whitewash tinted with yellow, over which a series of “dots” about one and a quarter inch in diameter were painted in lampblack about 3 or 4 inches apart. They were dabbed on with a sponge like agent. Ready Mixed Paints As nearly as can be determined, the earliest successful ready-mixed oil paint produced in America was green. 1866, John Lucas and Company, Philadelphia. It was used on shutters and iron ornamental work. In short, green, because of its universal application, was the most promising color for a manufacturer testing the market. It was sold in cans of 1, 2, 3, and 4 lbs. weight. Problem was though, inadequate grinding and mixing techniques, and short shelf life. (This brought on the need to invent resealable cans) The cans were needed as the manufacture wanted to sell to the consumer rather than the professional painter. (seems that way today with most paint products still!) In 1876 the Averill Chemical Paint Company issued a range of ready mixed colors, and its sample card. About 30 colors. Prior to this, the home owner had to hire a professional painter as they had the “recipes” and training and materials. Most of the pigments were poisonous and you also had to grind lead which caused a lot of disease in painters of that era. The pro painter back then would paint house interior and exterior, knew how to marble and grain, made signs, painted carriages and varnished.

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