[f. LIMN v. + -ING1.]
1. Illuminating of manuscripts, etc. Also concr.
c. 1485. E. E. Misc. (Warton Club), 72. There begynnyth the crafte of lymnynge of bokys.
1573. (title) A very proper treatise, wherein is briefly sett forthe the arte of limming, which teacheth how siluer or golde shalbe layed or limmed vppon the sise [etc.].
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Luminacion de libros, lymning, miniculatio.
1612. Peacham, Gentl. Exerc., title-p., The making of all kinds of colours, to be vsed in Lymming, Painting, Tricking, and Blason of Coates, and Armes.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), I. 39. Of the third Edward, says Mr. Vertue, many portraits are preserved … in illuminated MSS…. He has not marked where these limnings exist.
1859. Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 100. The art of illuminating, or limning, as it was formerly called.
2. Painting († formerly spec. in water-color or distemper).
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Lives Emperors, in Hist. Ivstine, G g 1 b. Singing, playing, and phisick, geometry, painting, and liming.
1675. Salmon, Polygraph., II. xv. 73. Limning is an Art whereby in Water Colours, we strive to resemble Nature in every thing to the life.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 147/2. Limning, Painting in Water colours with Gum or Size.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 328. Limning, one would think, is no expensive Diversion, but … she paints Fans for all her Female Acquaintance, and draws all her Relations Pictures in Miniature.
1884. B. B. Warfield, in Chr. Treasury, Feb., 92/1. Not by the skilled limning of a Michael Angelo, but by the disconnected dabblings of a score and a half of untrained forgers.
b. An instance of this; concr. a painting.
1689. Lond. Gaz., No. 2511/4. A Collection of Paintings and fine Limnings by the best Masters.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), III. 295. E’er you attempt those accurate and refin’d limnings or portraitures of mankind, or offer to bring gentlemen on the stage.
1816. Singer, Hist. Cards, 67. A great many limnings in rather a rude style of art.
1861. Our Eng. Home, 145. The limnings of early painters on the walls.
3. attrib., as † limning gold, † picture, -skill.
1420. Nottingham Rec., II. 120. Pro auro vocato ‘lymnyng gold.’
1617. I. Oliver, in Wills Doctors Com. (Camden), 84. All my drawings … and lymning pictures, or any thing of lymning whatsoever … as yet unfinished.
1737. M. Green, Spleen, 450. When fancy tries her limning skill To draw and colour at her will.
