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Oil Painting for Sale

Oil painting is a painting technique that involves mixing finely ground color pigments with a binding oil, typically linseed oil, though poppy seed oil is also used. Before applying the paint, the surface must be coated with a primer to ensure proper adhesion. This step is essential for the durability and versatility of the medium, allowing artists to paint on various surfaces such as wood, canvas, or metal.

The origins of oil painting trace back to the Middle Ages, but it was the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck who is often credited with refining the technique. His experiments led to new levels of transparency and depth in artworks, influencing other Flemish painters who helped spread the method. Oil painting soon replaced tempera, which relied on egg yolk as a binder, and became the dominant medium in European art.

During the 15th century, wooden panels gave way to stretched linen canvases mounted on frames, enabling artists to work on larger, more flexible surfaces. This transition, however, came with challenges, as oil paint contained toxic components and required skilled preparation. Despite this, the Renaissance saw a surge in its popularity, with Venetian painters like Titian and Flemish masters such as Rubens embracing the medium. Dutch painters, led by Rembrandt, further advanced oil painting techniques, making it a defining feature of Baroque and later artistic movements.

The 19th and 20th centuries cemented oil painting as the preferred medium for modern artists. Industrialization revolutionized its use, with the invention of pre-packaged paint tubes in France in 1840. This innovation played a key role in the emergence of Impressionism, allowing painters to work outdoors, capturing light and movement in ways never before possible. A century later, acrylic paint began to challenge oil painting due to its quick drying time and ease of use.

A fundamental rule in oil painting is the fat-over-lean principle, ensuring durability by applying layers with higher oil content over those with lower oil content. This method prevents cracking and enhances the painting's longevity. While traditional oil painting techniques continue to thrive, contemporary artists often experiment with unconventional approaches. Some painters leave the canvas unprimed to highlight its raw texture, while abstract artists such as Jackson Pollock abandoned classical methods altogether, using dripping techniques to create spontaneous, dynamic compositions.

Oil painting remains a cornerstone of the art world, with countless artists still using this historic technique to produce remarkable works. On Artsper, discover contemporary oil paintings by renowned artists such as Arman, Salvador Dalí, and Robert Combas, showcasing the timeless beauty and versatility of this celebrated medium.

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Painting, Dante, Roger Dale

Dante

Roger Dale

Painting - 100 x 80 x 5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 2 inch

€4,800

Painting, Venise, Robert Coutelas

Venise

Robert Coutelas

Painting - 81 x 100 x 1 cm Painting - 31.9 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

€3,900

Painting, Smoke, Emilie Crépin

Smoke

Emilie Crépin

Painting - 70 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

€600

Painting, Pink Dahlias, Olga Volna

Pink Dahlias

Olga Volna

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€595 €416

Painting, Memory 2, Nguyen Minh Nam

Memory 2

Nguyen Minh Nam

Painting - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

€4,750

Painting, Card Game, Armando Orfeo

Card Game

Armando Orfeo

Painting - 35 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

€600

Painting, Paseo, José Pirès

Paseo

José Pirès

Painting - 60 x 60 x 3 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1.2 inch

€1,450

Painting, Biginning, Yuko Montgomery

Biginning

Yuko Montgomery

Painting - 22.1 x 27.4 x 2 cm Painting - 8.7 x 10.8 x 0.8 inch

€704

Painting, Flowers, Giovanni Antoci

Flowers

Giovanni Antoci

Painting - 81 x 61 x 0.79 cm Painting - 31.9 x 24 x 0.3 inch

€500

Painting, Birds, Jean Pierre Gouysse

Birds

Jean Pierre Gouysse

Painting - 54.5 x 45.5 x 0.2 cm Painting - 21.5 x 17.9 x 0.1 inch

€780

Painting, Solaris 1, Erwann Tirilly

Solaris 1

Erwann Tirilly

Painting - 40 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€2,000

Painting, Avant, Anna Camille

Avant

Anna Camille

Painting - 43 x 28 x 3 cm Painting - 16.9 x 11 x 1.2 inch

€1,000

Painting, Citrus Glow, Anna Kober

Citrus Glow

Anna Kober

Painting - 70 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

€896

Painting, Fleurs 41, Pascal Vilcollet

Fleurs 41

Pascal Vilcollet

Painting - 92 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 36.2 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€4,900 €4,410

Painting, No Title, Dean Tavoularis

No Title

Dean Tavoularis

Painting - 27 x 41 x 1 cm Painting - 10.6 x 16.1 x 0.4 inch

€3,500

Painting, Spinario, Roman Durcek

Spinario

Roman Durcek

Painting - 25 x 20 x 1.5 cm Painting - 9.8 x 7.9 x 0.6 inch

€2,400

Painting, Jaguar, Farid Saâdi

Jaguar

Farid Saâdi

Painting - 54 x 65 x 3 cm Painting - 21.3 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

€3,500

Painting, Green, Yael Hoenig

Green

Yael Hoenig

Painting - 90 x 110 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 43.3 x 0.8 inch

€2,100

Painting, Calle 5, Joan Duran

Calle 5

Joan Duran

Painting - 41 x 53 x 4 cm Painting - 16.1 x 20.9 x 1.6 inch

€900

Painting, Hand 02, Eloy Morales

Hand 02

Eloy Morales

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€1,700

Painting, Tundra, Ulla Bolin

Tundra

Ulla Bolin

Painting - 74 x 70 x 3 cm Painting - 29.1 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

€2,400

Painting, Coast, Steve McGuinness

Coast

Steve McGuinness

Painting - 26 x 56 x 3 cm Painting - 10.2 x 22 x 1.2 inch

€1,800

Painting, Two bottles, Karin Thaler

Two bottles

Karin Thaler

Painting - 50 x 40 x 1.8 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.7 inch

€900

Painting, Peony Garden, Robert Lemay

Peony Garden

Robert Lemay

Painting - 102 x 153 x 4 cm Painting - 40.2 x 60.2 x 1.6 inch

€5,220

Painting, Steam. Damp, Dorthe Gram

Steam. Damp

Dorthe Gram

Painting - 100 x 40 x 5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 15.7 x 2 inch

€1,200

Painting, Burbuja segura, El Toni

Burbuja segura

El Toni

Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€500

Painting, Blue salty, Dimitar Petrov

Blue salty

Dimitar Petrov

Painting - 70 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

€1,500

Painting, Flight, Elena Baurecht

Flight

Elena Baurecht

Painting - 120 x 80 x 5 cm Painting - 47.2 x 31.5 x 2 inch

€2,287

Painting, Monochrom N92, Valerii

Monochrom N92

Valerii

Painting - 40 x 35 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

€1,710

Painting, You and Me, Rumen Sazdov

You and Me

Rumen Sazdov

Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

€4,800

23/100

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Discover the selection of our experts

Painting, Discogolf, Ralph Resch

Discogolf

Ralph Resch

Painting - 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

€1,050

Painting, Orgasm, Dasha Pogodina

Orgasm

Dasha Pogodina

Painting - 90 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

€2,320

Painting, Régate, Pierrick Tual

Régate

Pierrick Tual

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€720

Need help with Oil Painting for Sale ?
What is special about oil painting?

Oil painting allows for very efficient mixing of colors and tones. Due to its long drying time, it is possible to alter an oil painting days after the paint has been applied. Oil painting also allows for precision and a range of visual effects.

What's the difference between oil painting and acrylic?

Oil paint and acrylic paint are produced using different materials. While oil painting consists of pigments suspended in drying oils, acrylic paint is water-based. The main difference between the two is that acrylic paints can be thinned down with water, and dry faster than oil paints.

Is oil painting easier than watercolor?

It is easier to correct mistakes when working in oil paint as they are more opaque than watercolors and can be easily scraped off a surface.