10.1 Oil painting and the development of the easel picture
4 min read•august 15, 2024
Oil painting revolutionized art in Northern Europe during the 15th century. Flemish artists like perfected the technique, which offered greater versatility and durability compared to earlier methods. This new medium allowed for more detailed and refined compositions.
The rise of oil painting led to the production of smaller, portable artworks. These pieces were highly sought after by collectors and merchants, contributing to a thriving art market. Oil paint's unique properties also enabled artists to create more realistic and vibrant works across various genres.
Origins of Oil Painting in Northern Europe
Early Development and Key Figures
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Oil painting techniques emerged in Northern Europe during the early 15th century
Flemish artists (Jan van Eyck) played a pivotal role in developing and popularizing oil painting
Van Eyck brothers perfected the oil painting technique, although they did not invent it outright
Development of oil painting coincided with the rise of the school
Emphasized naturalistic representation and intricate detail
Examples include works by and
Technical Characteristics and Advantages
Oil served as a binding medium for pigments
Allowed for greater versatility and durability compared to earlier painting methods (egg tempera)
Early oil paintings created on wooden panels
Artists gradually transitioned to supports as the medium evolved
Slow-drying nature of oil paints enabled extended work periods
Allowed for more detailed and refined compositions
Facilitated techniques like and
Impact of Oil Painting on Portable Art
Small-Scale Artworks and Patronage
Oil painting facilitated production of smaller, intimate artworks
Easily transported and displayed in private settings
Highly sought after by collectors and merchants
Contributed to the development of a robust art market in Northern Europe
Enabled artists to work on commission for patrons across different regions
Fostered cultural exchange and artistic innovation
Small-scale oil paintings became popular as personal keepsakes and diplomatic gifts
Examples include portrait miniatures and devotional panels
Religious and Secular Applications
Durability and flexibility of oil paint allowed creation of folding altarpieces and diptychs
Popular among wealthy patrons for personal devotion
Examples include the by Jan and Hubert van Eyck
Ability to create small-scale, high-quality artworks contributed to rise of secular subjects
Often displayed in domestic settings
Examples include genre scenes and small-scale landscapes
Technical Advantages of Oil Paint vs Tempera
Color and Blending Capabilities
Oil paint offers wider range of color possibilities
Mixed with various pigments without losing vibrancy or changing consistency
Slow-drying nature allows for more subtle blending and gradation of colors
Enables smoother transitions and more realistic effects
Facilitates techniques like sfumato (Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa")
Layering capabilities enable artists to build up depth and luminosity
Creates sense of three-dimensionality difficult to achieve with tempera
Examples include the luminous skin tones in Vermeer's portraits
Texture and Application Techniques
Oil paint applied in thin, transparent layers (glazes) or thick, opaque layers (impasto)
Provides greater control over texture and surface quality
Examples of impasto technique in Rembrandt's self-portraits
Malleability allows for easier corrections and reworking of areas
Unlike quick-drying tempera which requires more precise application
Creates both matte and glossy finishes
Gives artists more options for depicting different materials and surfaces
Examples include Jan van Eyck's ability to render various textures in "The "
Durability and Preservation
Oil paint's resistance to cracking and flaking, when properly applied
Contributes to longevity and preservation of artworks compared to tempera paintings
Allows for creation of larger, more durable works
Examples include large-scale altarpieces and history paintings
Influence of Oil Painting on New Genres
Portraiture and Self-Portraiture
Oil painting's ability to capture fine details and subtle variations in tone and color
Ideal for creating lifelike portraits
Led to increased demand for this genre
Facilitated creation of self-portraits
Enabled artists to study and perfect their techniques
Promoted their skills to potential patrons
Examples include 's self-portraits and Rembrandt's numerous self-portraits throughout his career
Still Life and Vanitas Paintings
Medium's versatility in depicting various textures and surfaces
Contributed to development of painting as a distinct genre
Allowed artists to showcase their technical skills
Capacity for naturalistic representation and symbolic detail
Supported evolution of still life paintings
Explored themes of mortality and transience of earthly pleasures
Examples include works by Dutch Golden Age painters like Willem Claesz Heda and Pieter Claesz
Landscape and Genre Painting
Oil painting's capacity for creating and rendering light
Enhanced painting, elevating it from a background element to a genre in its own right
Examples include works by Jacob van Ruisdael and Claude Lorrain
Ability to depict complex scenes with multiple figures and intricate details
Contributed to rise of , depicting everyday life and contemporary society
Examples include works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Jan Steen