Oil painting
The oldest known oil paintings survive in the rock-cut caves of Bamiyan, Afghanistan. These Buddhist murals date back to the 7th century AD and display a sophisticated use of drying oils as binders for pigments. The artworks were created by artists who understood how to mix pigments with oil long before European painters adopted the method. A final varnish layer protected these images from the harsh climate of the Silk Road settlement. The survival of these paintings suggests that oil paint technology had been used in Asia for some time prior to their creation. This technique remained unknown in Europe for another 900 years or so.
Monk Theophilus Presbyter wrote about oil-based painting in a treatise dated around 1125. He described using the medium for outdoor sculptures and wood fittings rather than fine art images. Early Netherlandish painters like Jan van Eyck and Robert Campin made oil the usual medium during the early and mid-15th century. They explored the use of layers and glazes to create depth and luminosity. Vasari falsely credited northern European painters of the 15th century with inventing oil paints. By 1540, tempera had become almost extinct for panel paintings across most of Europe. Venice led the move toward canvas supports because sail-canvas was easily available and cheaper than wood.
Linseed oil comes from flax seeds and serves as the most general purpose drying oil for artists. Safflower, walnut, and poppyseed oils yellow less on drying but dry more slowly than linseed oil. Painters add siccatives to accelerate drying time and resins to adjust the sheen of the paint. Litharge acts as a siccative to speed up the process when mixed into drying oils. Lead white remained the dominant white pigment for centuries due to its opacity and fast drying time. Modern regulations restrict lead pigments in places like the UK to licensed restoration work only.
Traditional oil painting begins with sketching the subject onto the canvas using charcoal or thinned paint. Artists follow the rule that each additional layer must contain more oil than the layer below it. This fat over lean principle prevents the final painting from cracking and peeling over time. Old masters applied thin layers known as glazes that allow light to penetrate completely through the surface. Giovanni Bellini created some of the earliest impasto effects around 1500 by leaving rough textures visible. Titian became a leader in drawing attention to individual brushstrokes during the 16th century. Rembrandt began using dark grounds in the 17th century to create dramatic contrasts.
The earliest oil paintings were almost all panel paintings on wood seasoned through an expensive process. Rubens painted several large works on wood well into the 17th century despite the material warping easily. Canvas for sails was made in Venice and offered a cheaper alternative for larger images. Small cabinet paintings often used copper plates reused from printmaking to achieve fine detail. Standard sizes for oil paintings were set in France during the 19th century to organize figure, landscape, and marine formats. Modern artists sometimes glue canvas onto panels made from aluminum composite materials to combine benefits.
John Goffe Rand invented the squeezable metal tube in 1841 to solve portability issues for artists. Before this invention, painters ground pigments and mixed paints within their studios. The collapsible tube enabled relatively convenient plein air painting for the first time. French Impressionism adopted this approach as a common method for working outdoors. Artists could mix colors quickly and easily without carrying heavy grinding equipment. This innovation changed the location of most painting activities from the studio to the open air.
Common questions
Where are the oldest known oil paintings located?
The oldest known oil paintings survive in the rock-cut caves of Bamiyan, Afghanistan. These Buddhist murals date back to the 7th century AD and display a sophisticated use of drying oils as binders for pigments.
When did European painters adopt oil paint technology?
This technique remained unknown in Europe for another 900 years or so after its use in Asia. Early Netherlandish painters like Jan van Eyck and Robert Campin made oil the usual medium during the early and mid-15th century.
What is the most general purpose drying oil used by artists?
Linseed oil comes from flax seeds and serves as the most general purpose drying oil for artists. Painters add siccatives to accelerate drying time and resins to adjust the sheen of the paint.
Who invented the squeezable metal tube for oil paints?
John Goffe Rand invented the squeezable metal tube in 1841 to solve portability issues for artists. The collapsible tube enabled relatively convenient plein air painting for the first time.
Why did Venice lead the move toward canvas supports for oil paintings?
Venice led the move toward canvas supports because sail-canvas was easily available and cheaper than wood. Canvas for sails was made in Venice and offered a cheaper alternative for larger images.