Watercolor Paint Boxes
Young ladies of the 18th century were expected to develop literacy and management skills to supervise a household often including staff. They were also encouraged to develop their artistic skills studying art, music, dance, and needle work. This was a sign of refinement and would make them more attractive to potential suitors.
Some of the professional trades of the men would also require skills in painting such as in the printing of maps, adding color to prints of copper plate engravings, and other important trades.
For this purpose, English companies, some of which still exist today, produced sets of watercolor paints to provide opportunities for completing these tasks. Below are pictures of reproduction paint sets that are available for those wishing to refining their skills or enhancing their 18th century presentation.
The photo with two similar size boxes shows an original from 1790 (the smaller one) and my reproduction. The size difference is to allow for standard size modern paint blocks and the use of currently available ceramic cups. The other photos show18th century watercolor artist Valerie Skinner using one of these reproduction paint sets and the other one of these sets being used at the Colonial Williamsburg Engraver’s shop next to a copper plate with the resulting print about to be colored.
