A.C.E. Series: What Makes An Oil Painting Valuable
1. Antiquity
Though historical evidence points to oil-based paints being used as early as 1124, it wasn’t until the 15th century in Northern Europe when artist Jan van Eyck is credited to have invented the medium of painting with oil paints on wood supports.
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Eastlake Style Birdseye Maple and Single Drawer Desk, Late 19th Century
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Alfio Grasso Oil Painting of Seated Nude "Sunset," 1970
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18K Cyma Quartz Wristwatch
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José M. Lima Floral Still Life Oil Painting, 2023
2. Longevity
“Oil paint is a durable medium that lasts hundreds of years,” says McMillan. “It is created with pigments suspended in a drying oil, usually linseed. The medium is chosen for its flexibility and vibrancy as it can be applied in varying thickness and technique.” Its longevity is why we can enjoy and appreciate the artwork from centuries ago.
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14K 0.38 CT Diamond Solitaire Necklace
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Oil Painting of Madonna and Child, 21st Century
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Czech Barolac Style Frosted Glass Vase with Cherub and Grapes Motif
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William Shatner Signed "Star Trek" Print
3. Quality and Effect
While most of what we consider masterpieces come from great oil painters such as da Vinci and Rembrandt, oil remains a prominent medium for contemporary art. The versatility, color, textural properties and workability rival other mediums to this day.
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Waterford "Prentiss" Crystal Candlesticks With Rectangular Waterford Clock
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Dave Fetty for Fenton "Hanging Hearts" Limited Edition Art Glass Vases, 1975
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Walter Stomps Abstract Geometric Acrylic Painting "Galactic Border No. 1"
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Christian Dior Navy Trotter Jacquard Zip Pouch
4. Complexity of Materials
Most Renaissance or Baroque painters spent years as pupils or apprentices learning to mix paint for master artists. This knowledge included knowing the properties of the pigments such as hue, permanence, chroma, lightfastness, compatibility with other pigments, drying attributes. On top of grinding pigments, memorizing binder-to-pigment proportions, and being able to determine whether or not a particular pigment required the addition of a siccative or extender before being ready for use, these students had to maintain the hue and consistency of the colors for up to a year or more on large-scale artworks.
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Louis Vuitton Naviglio Messenger Bag in Damier Ebene Canvas
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Mike Trout, Nolan Ryan, and More Graded Baseball Cards, 1990s-2010s
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P. Fioritto Floral Oil Painting, 2012
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Farmside Parcel-Ebonized and Elm Queen Bed Frame
5. Drying Time
Oil has a much slower drying time, and layers must dry before the next is applied. Thicker applications of oil paint potentially take up to six months or longer to completely dry, and a completed painting usually takes up to a year to dry before it can be sealed with varnish.
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Francine Wrap Shirt in Leather and Paolo Santini Leather Shirt with Siena Skirt
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Don Hatfield Serigraph "The Sailboat," Late 20th Century
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Death NYC Pop Art Graphic Print of Mickey Mouse, 2022
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Albert duVannes Tonalist Landscape Oil Painting, Early 20th Century
6. Collectible Timelessness.
According to McMillan, “Oil paintings are an easy transition for someone who is new to collecting contemporary art.” While many contemporary oil paintings can lean towards the abstract or minimalist, McMillan states that there are “also quite a few living artists creating in technique similar to the plein air artists of the 19th century.”