There is something special about oil paintings; it is the richness, the fluidity and the depth that can only be captured through this medium.
Oil gained its popularity during the fifteenth century and reached its apogee during the Renaissance. It was then when artists started to replace tempera with oil for its durability.
Oil paint is made by mixing colour pigments with different types of oil which determine its intensity and drying time. Today, artists can also get water mixable oil paint, the main advantage being the much shorter drying time.
One of the first artists that used oil paints was Jan van Eyck, a Dutch artist active in Bruges. He is mainly known for its portraits and paintings of religious scenes. Other famous artists that painted in oil during the Renaissance were: Raphael, Titian, Vermeer and Rembrandt among others.
An oil painting is created just like any other painting, by sketching the image on the surface with charcoal or thinned paints, then applying the paints with brushes or palette knives. Because of the long drying time, an oil painting allows artists to correct mistakes fairly easily and even to wipe the paint and start over in some cases.
An oil painting is durable and the colours are intense, making this medium a favourite for artists and collectors alike. Enjoy our selection!
