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.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Oil Painting of Pastoral Lake Landscape With Cows, Early 20th Century
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Marc A. Graison Landscape Oil Painting "New Mexico Sunset," 2023
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Landscape Oil Painting of Figures in Exterior Scene
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Maria Pfropper Folk Art "The Cat" Print with Other Decor
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.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sarah Brown Giclée of Skyscape, 21st Century
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Japanese Porcelain Imari Rectangular Dishes
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Joan Miró Abstract Lithograph, 1975
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Denix 18th Century Louis XIV Model Cannon, Mid-20th Century
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.
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Jim Shore Heartwood Creek Angels, Holy Family and Christmas Story Figurines
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Three Modernist Style Acrylic and Metal Bar Stools
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Ameriwood Industries Ebonized Wood Three-Door Console Cabinet
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Jean Dubuffet Color Lithograph Poster for Festival d'Automne à Paris, 1973
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.
EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
Oak Storage Cupboard, Late 19th to Early 20th Century
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
14K Poodle Pendant
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Jerry Kellems Acrylic Painting of Abstract Figures
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Death NYC Pop Art Offset Lithograph of Snoopy With Surfboard, 2023
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.
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
David Andrews Oil Painting "Dog Portrait," 2019
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Peter Keil Abstract Portrait Ink Drawings
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Lenci Italian Felted Wool Dolls, Mid-20th Century
EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Bulova Marine Star Stainless Steel 44MM Chronograph Date Wristwatch
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.”
