Giphantie is a novel by Tiphaigne de la Roche published in 1760.
The elementary spirits have studied to fix these transient images: they have composed a most subtile matter, very viscous, and proper to harden and dry, by the help of which a picture is made in the twinkle of an eye.
They do cover with this matter a piece of canvas, and hold it before the objects they have a mind to paint.
The first effect of the canvas is that of a mirrour; there are seen upon it all the bodies far and near, whose image the light can transmit.
This impression of the images is made the first instant they are received on the canvas, which is immediately carried away into some dark place; an hour after, the subtile matter dries, and you have a picture so much the more valuable, as it cannot be imitated by art nor damaged by time.” (95-96, Gutenberg translation) This article about an 18th century novel is a stub.