Art History of Oil Painting
On this page I would like to give some information on the history of oil painting as documented by various sites such as Art Museums, and other sources which will be listed on the bottom of the page as resources. In many art books it has been documented that oil painting was brought into popularity by artist in Europe around the 15th century. Prior to this time the use of tempura was used on a greater scale. By adding the oil to the tempura, there was a result of a richer, brighter effect from the paint. The drying time slowed down enabling the artist to work slower and blend more with the new and improved paint medium. It is interesting to note that the prehistoric cave painting that were discovered by four men in 1940 in the Dordogne region of France came across an impressive array of prehistoric art. There were about 600 paintings in various caverns of the caves. The main cavern holding the most cave paintings. These cave paintings were done with mineral pigments mixed with animal fat in various shades of yellow, red, brown and black. They were dated to the late Aurignacian period (15,000 to 13,000 B.C) 
Recently in 2001 oil paintings have been found in caves behind the two ancient colossal Buddha statues destroyed in 2001 by the Taliban indicating that Asians (not Europeans) were the first to invent oil painting. These caves are located in the Afghan region of Bamiyan. The caves are decorated with paintings from the fifth to the ninth centuries.There have been scientific tests done to show that the paintings were made of oil paint. "This is the earliest clear example of oil paintings in the world, although drying oils were already used by ancient Romans and Egyptians, but only as medicines and cosmetics," said researcher Yoko Taniguchi. Painted in the mid-seventh century, the murals show scenes with Buddha in vermillion robes sitting cross-legged amid palm leaves and mythical creatures. The scientist discovered that 12 out of the 50 caves were painted with oil painting techniques, using perhaps walnut and poppy seed drying oils.Here is an image from this finding. 
The ancient time period of the Romans beginning around 27 BC was during the Byzantine and gothic time periods. The paintings in the Byzantine and gothic time periods were mainly based on religious scenes and were flat (very little form) They were religious and idealized images painted on wood panels. Here are some examples of a Byzantine paintings. 
The next image is called "Madonna and Child" and it was done in the 1300's. Note the human form proportions of the child.. 
The next image is called "Portrait of a Carthusian" 1446, oil on wood by Petrus Christus 
In the Renaissance time period (1400 - 1600) painters attempted to create more harmonious, symmetrical and properly proportioned figures, protraying the human form in a glorified realism. The use of shading to enhance realism and linear perspective greatly improved the oil paintings of the period. They were filled with life and energy and seemed to stand out from the canvas in a three dimensions. Some of the great masters included Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo Buonarnoti. The Flemish brothers Hubert and Jan Van Eyck were noted as utilizing the new oil paints. The results of their paintings were fabulous. The following picture is called the Crucifixion by Jan Van Eyck. 
The next image is called "Portrait of a Noble woman" done in the mid 15th century. Oil on wood. 
The next image is a self portrait of Rembrandt done in the 1600's. 
After the Renaissance art movement there were many other art movements to follow such as: Mannerism Baroque Rococo Neo-Classical Romanticism Symbolism Realism Impressionism: This is the type of art Vincent Van Gogh, Claud Monet, and Pierre Auguste Renoir created around the 1700 thru the 1800's. It is characterized by the brush stroke technique of "broken colour" There was much less blending of the colours and more "painterly" brush strokes and much more paint texture with thick luscious oil paint piled onto the canvas by the impressionistic painters. At the time of Van Gogh's painting; this impressionistic style was viewed as something very strange and different. Unfortunately most people during that time had a negative opinion of his work therefore he was not a successful artist when he was alive. It was after he died that people finally saw the genious artist skills he had and realized what he had contributed to the art world. There are many great art books on these masters in painting and I highly recommend you look at them and see the beautiful paintings that were done. More info to come later. Check back.
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