S. C.

Arteni

The notes of De Mayerne on artists’ oil colors

14th I.S.F. Congress, Section Lipids in Art,

Brighton, England, 1978

Paul Bril, Self portrait

http://www.wga.hu/support/viewer/z.html

SolInvictus Press 2018

 Jacob Andries Beschey, Portrait of Theodore Turquet de Mayerne
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/images/paintings/well/large
/cdn_well_v_17969_large.jpg
 Job Berckheyde, The merchant of colors
http://www.casa-in-
italia.com/artpx/dut/Berckheyde/Berckheyde_Job_Leipzig_Merchant_colors.jpg
Note

I corrected an error found in the original printed

Proceedings
 Gerrit van Honthorst
http://www.studioesseci.net/allegati/mostre/926/VAN_HONTORST_002m.j
pg
 Frans Hals
JasperShttp://www.flickr.com/photos/havala/4236063558/sizes/o/in/
set-72157623112312092/
 Frans Hals
http://www.studioesseci.net/allegati/mostre/926/HALS_007m.jpg
 Frans Hals
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=329875370364783&se
t=a.299582946727359.78093.295453237140330&type=1&theater
 Frans Hals, Portrait of a gentleman in white
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4033/4336096186_2e019d3a01_o.jpg
 Frans Hals, Portrait of a gentleman in white, detail
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2169/5816280008_176681a299_o.jpg
 Jan de Baen
http://autoritratti.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/jan-de-baen-
autoritratto-con-la-moglie.jpg
 Pieter Claesz
http://marshagilliam.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/pieterclaeszthe
banquetpiece.jpg
 Pieter Claesz, Still life with turkey pie, detail
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nightf3v3r/238718800/sizes/l/in/photo
list-n6uMo-n6uMp-zEV6X-4k2iuT-btPHAP-8m2htE-8kYdd2-
da2M16-a3onMk-8FcpZX-djuRkx-djuTpF-dnVhrv-dnVeRK-
dnVmK5-9FY1Nk-9FY3gX-dnV54Z-dnV5HZ-dnVovi-dnV432-
ddkEja-9PVGx6-fg8LRs-aLjYDi-8FcnSi-8FcpDk-8LDxGz/
 Willem Claesz. Heda, Still life with gilt cup, detail
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nightf3v3r/358630241/sizes/l/in/photo
list-xG5h2-4pQKaa-5JB8b6-7eWp7D-7f1hr5-7f1io7-aX31EM-
cHQJny-8bVNaQ-8bSszT-8bSx5X-8bVHxQ-ftuJ3B-ftuJ5V-
8F53uc-dpZLdg-dpZHti-aLkede-cQ4ASo-9kfV7a-9kfVWD/
 Unknown Master
https://www.lempertz.com/uploads/tx_lempertzproject/Lempertz_92
0_1084_Alte_Kunst_Hollaendischer_Meister_STILLLEBEN_MIT_G
L%C3%84SERN_Z.jpg
 Dutch School
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/still-life-210007
 Unknown Master, possibly Isaak Luttichuys
https://www.lempertz.com/uploads/tx_lempertzproject/Lempertz_97
7_1083_Old_Masters_Netherlandish_School_17th_century_STILL_
LIFE_WITH_LEMON.jpg
 Willem Kalf
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/still-life-fruit-
goblet-and-salver-205304
 Willem Kalf
http://www.sothebys.com/content/dam/stb/lots/L14/L14033/801L1
4033_7CBPP.jpg
 Willem Kalf
http://www.dorotheum.com/fileadmin/user_upload/bilder/Presse/G
allery_of_Highlights_09/138_34821_1.jpg
 Maerten Boelema de Stomme
http://www.sothebys.com/content/dam/stb/lots/L13/L13034/136L1
3034_6W2XL.jpg
 Abraham Susenier
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580929815295676&se
t=a.423502324371760.101202.423479437707382&type=1&theat
er
 Nicolaes Maes
http://www.friendsofart.net/static/images/art1/nicolaes-maes-
portrait-of-a-woman.jpg
 Gerard Terborch II
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/a-woman-in-
profile
 Gerard Terborch II
http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/files/2013/06/gm_11324901.jpg
 Pieter de Hooch
http://www.studioesseci.net/allegati/mostre/926/DE_HOOCH_002
m.jpg
 Jan Steen, Circe
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/circe-102971
 Dutch school
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/images/paintings/yag/larg
e/ny_yag_yorag_851_large.jpg
 Willem Drost
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/young-woman-
in-a-brocade-gown-209651
 Studio of Peter Paul Rubens, The Entombment, after Titian
http://www.sothebys.com/content/dam/stb/lots/N08/N08825/004N
08825_3W4ZC.jpg
 Peter Paul Rubens
http://www.sothebys.com/content/dam/stb/lots/N08/N08825/744N
08825_64JPT.jpg
 Peter Paul Rubens
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oxfordshire_church_photos/4113128
526/sizes/l/in/photolist-7gsRP5-7gtafj-7gVsgu-7gVP1d-7iiste-
7jsrPS-7kJHHL-7niTuu-7nM1J7-7oe4oi-7sHy7h-7txVnH-9NVcZa-
dZPXsX-8b2wu6-bnTSFn-arxTkA-acFGJd-7yV5vr-7yV526-
dZVDzJ-833QxP-9C5JR5-8HtP93-baRezz-8sKUhj-aHqAQ6-
etd5T6/
 Peter Paul Rubens, The three Graces
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/the-three-
graces-200257
 Anthony Van Dyck
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200619056092436
&set=a.1395047549810.2056195.1040841990&type=1&theater
 Anthony van Dyck
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/portrait-of-
francois-langlois-115012
 Anthony Van Dyck
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oxfordshire_church_photos/5978359
050/sizes/l/in/photostream/
 Anthony Van Dyck
John, Count of Nassau, with his family, detail
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oxfordshire_church_photos/5990574027/sizes/l/in/photolist-a8nfX6-a8nsac-e4ym7k-a8nhU4-7K9n4o-att8WP-ansgi7-
e4ykZV-a5ymLx-c1GXXN-ddzRh9-81Rrmt-bqJnu7-f8fHrN-anprZt-9sUQG6-9sUQfR-amYv8k-amc2Rb-amc1Gf-cvfJoQ-9F82mw-9F56ZV-9abHqu-
8m2htE-bMXgiT-8F8e9q-ftux8k-ahnKhW-8DEonf-atsTHH-att1hF-atvAUh-bi8ueV-bi9QD4-bi9QKZ-bi8uo6-bi9Qta-bi8tYt-8rJnYS-8fTRip-8kYdd2-
bCowKs-bQWt8K-bQWthX-dyjG86-7ENaHw-ansgbN-ansge5-ansg89-dss5dY/
 Erasmus Quellinus the Younger
https://content2.cdnprado.net/imagenes/Documentos/imgsem/cc/cc
92/cc92801e-c267-43c3-be5d-a6c9f4e32fec/cdd34cc0-b965-4afb-
89ab-85dd24cad4dd.jpg
 Jacob Jordaens
Candaules, king of Lydia showing his wife to Gyges (detail)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9739200@N08/5363623468/sizes/l/i
n/photostream/
 Jan Gerritsz van Bronchorst
http://www.lib-art.com/imgpainting/0/9/4890-sleeping-nymph-and-
shepherd-jan-gerritsz-van-bronchorst.jpg
 Jan Vermeer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/christ-in-the-
house-of-martha-and-mary-210810
 David Teniers II, Susannah and the Elders
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/susannah-and-
the-elders-207504
 David Teniers II
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/a-lady-with-her-nurse-219581
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/portrait-of-anna-maria-van-
schurman-114999
 David Teniers II
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/The_Virgin_
and_Child_with_Saints_Stephen%2C_Jerome_and_Maurice_%2
81656%29%3B_David_Teniers_the_Younger.JPG
 David Teniers II, Archduke Leopold Wilhelm in his gallery in Brussels
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hen-magonza/8523124037/sizes/k/in/photolist-dZaeQr-9tojqb-c6nEeh-
96jaSM-96ncdW-9imLAi-9imLAc-9imLAe-b39eHz-8Pb8jf-egWqJB-9YBRyf-9onFz1-9ZCEUW-
asPV4Q-7QkN9T-dm7UFn-fbQwaS-fgUNPF-fgUHYc-bbVzfx-dTpQpK-dVNSke-eQxCZ4-e2yWyp-
dTvtwU-dTpPC8-dVNS8X-dwUVzX-e8LksT-7BR6bu-7DhMT3-dTpP9k-dTvtBq-dVUsuL-e8LkDa-
e8Lkwk-7CyW7r-c9N1KC-fxeRgt-c9P2i3-dZxfjP-fK7R1c-dZCXrE-dZxf3r-dZCXd1-dZCXyu-fxeRJz-
defpeD-fk43vk-dW81gM/
 Jacob van Loo
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Danae_by
_Van_Loo.jpg
 Ferdinand Bol, Self portrait
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580576851997639&se
t=a.423502324371760.101202.423479437707382&type=1&theat
er
Karin Groen & Ella Hendriks
Frans Hals: a Technical Examination

…PAINT LAYERS
Hals seems to have first sketched his forms using blackish or
brownish lines applied thinly with a brush, directIy onto the primed
painting support…
…Following the stage in which forms are set down using painted
lines, the next stage appears to involve the laying in of the main
areas of colour. Examination of the paintings suggests the use of
a variety of coloured underpaints. Black clothing often appears to
have been underpainted in thin washes of brownish to greyish
paint…
…Flesh paint is underpainted using colours which vary from white
to pinkish to reddish. Paint samples show that whilst the hand of
the Bearded Man with a Ruff … is underpainted using a light red
(containing vermilion mixed with lead white and a little umber), the
right hand of Paulus Verschuur … is underpainted with white
(lead white mixed with chalk). A pinkish underpainting appears to
be most common, as locally visible around the edges of the
hands of the Regentesses…
…A number of paint samples taken from the sashes of the five
militia pieces in the Frans Halsmuseum, Haarlem… show their
variously coloured underpaints, which are more subdued than the
final colour. Grey paint (white mixed with fine lamp black)
underlies the blue and sometimes the red sashes. Red and yellow
sashes are underpainted with yellow mixtures (containing yellow
ochre or an organic yellow). Blue sashes are also underpainted
using pale blue mixtures containing indigo (also used for the final
paint layer )…
 Portrait of a Bearded Man with a Ruff
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Portrait_of_a
_Bearded_Man_with_a_Ruff_by_Frans_Hals.jpg
 Portrait of Paulus
Verschuur
http://www.metmuseum.org/
toah/works-of-art/26.101.11

Portrait of Paulus Verschuur, detail

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rverc/4252826334/sizes/l/in/photolist-7tNR6Y-7tNTF7-7tNUfj-e9Bxan-9todEq-e9HceY-ftWE1m-bjsiTe-aXCLqa-9xAZiZ-
btBsVq-bScVh8-9r1cb9-eXMYhP-9DGP2L-7W9keo-7W65HB-9nW5qU-dZ6VEV-dZ6Vvp-cG9PCy-9nW6hE-bRpqK4-ftWDY1-ftGiQn-9xhKF9-
9toe4A-fFUGhL-fFVABA-ecWcVZ-bDYTXL-e4PKbk-8oAahK-8oA2ta-8oA7H2-8oDfs7-dZ6VhM-eKPx8U-dA13zz-87WfFp-9RXYtw-9RV2Lr-
9RXZvw-9RXXpN-9toep5-evfa5w-evfa2C-bktScG-cTB8VN-dUaAS7-fzBNLH/
 Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimmo-da-chiavari/6294684650/sizes/o/in/photolist-aAeUrG-aAeRk9-dJSpTm-dJcHZo-dJcvTG-87WfFp-9RXXpN-
9RXZvw-9RV2Lr-9RXYtw-87Zsw1-dJ7eCV-dJ7kgg-bJDFYx-8oA2ta-8oA7H2-8oAahK-8oDfs7-agYfSK-fECkKw-8AY1UM-9ccKmL-9zXG2y-chxFTQ-
a6ycqc-dUaAzu-aAeTH9-aAcbur-dZ6Vvp-dZ6VEV-bScVh8-9xhKF9-7W65HB-cDAXkS-cDAXfS-bJoLCD-bnHdc6-bnTSkc-bnTSsa-bnTSpa-
cDAX8W-cDAXDw-bniMn4/

Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimmo-da-chiavari/6294682182/sizes/o/in/photolist-aAeTH9-aAcbur-dZ6Vvp-dZ6VEV-bScVh8-9xhKF9-7W65HB-
cDAXkS-cDAXfS-bJoLCD-bnHdc6-bnTSkc-bnTSsa-bnTSpa-cDAX8W-cDAXDw-bniMn4/
…From these observations we can gain an idea of the general
appearance and use of the dead colour stage in paintings by
Hals. The dead-coloured stage of painting seems to have been
used for the first lay-in of coloured areas…
…The opmaecken or working-up of the painting would follow. In
Hals's portraits this seems to involve achieving nuances of colour,
detailing the elements and fixing the final contours. Sometimes
the period between dead colouring and working-up must have
been short, since paint samples show that the dead colour was
still wet when painting continued, causing the underlying paint
layer to be pulled up and mixed…
…From the 1630s onwards, Hals was largely confined to painting
the sombre regent fashion of black garments. Examination in
raking light of these black draperies in a number of paintings
reveals relieved brushstrokes which enliven the surface. Where
they underly the black paint layer, they often bear no connection
with the forms and modelling of the garments at the surface, and
have to do with an earlier painting stage. In other cases,
distinct relieved strokes lie at the paint surface (Jean de
la Chambre, Feyntje van Steenkiste…).Typically they appear fluid
with rounded edges which have been pushed up. This property
has to do with the consistency of the paint applied, and can also
be found in white and coloured strokes. Such a white stroke, on
the left cuff of Lucas de Clercq… has been used as one of the few
accents which enliven his somber costume.
 Portrai of Jean de la Chambre
http://www.flickr.com/photos/100627767@N04/9735945145/sizes/
k/in/photostream/
 Portrait of Feyntje van Steenkiste
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocor/6395012591/sizes/l/in/photolist-aK77rM-cG9PCy-bkj1K5-9g2GXV-9qyVxo-e7qxEP-e7qQkr-7ABjMz-aDmQ5Y-
9CPR6Y-83oDRP-e7wqVh-e7nBb5-eY3Uj6-e7wixW-e7qVuz-dUazv5-eYfiY5-eYfjvJ-aXCLqa-dU54A2-dUaGBA-eY3Vvp-dU553X-dUaGUU-
dUaBLQ-dUaGim-eYfjfy-eY3VNv-8kC1Nq-dU57wa-dUaCWC-dUaJkE-dUaHaW-dUaCvw-dUau33-dUaBaC-dUaE4o-dU4Paz-dUaFo7-dUas9G-
dUaDsL-dUaHJG-dUaBsE-dUaDcJ-dUaDKU-dUarT7-dU56yk-dU579t-aAi3Mm-aAA2a5/
 Portrait of Lucas de Clercq
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Frans_Hals_
-_Lucas_de_Clercq_-_WGA11125.jpg
Paint samples show that the typical build-up of the black
draperies is first a layer containing lamp black, either pure or
mixed with lead white or bone black. Bone black, sometimes with
umber added, was then used for the deepest tones, and lamp
black mixed with lead white for the cool greyish highlights.
Sometimes small quantities of ochres and umber were used.
Copper was found in many of these blacks, although only in a
few cases could green pigment particles be distinguished
under the microscope, indicating that a soluble copper compound
had been added to speed up the drying process. This
corresponds closely to de Mayerne's described method for
painting black draperies, that is first to use lamp black mixed with
lead white and umber, and then to deepen the colour using ivory
black mixed with verdigris…
…Green verditer was identified in a few places in draperies
which did not appear green {Laughing Boy, Regents,
Regentesses…). In the front panel of the dress of the Woman…
the green was not used as a drier, but was combined with red
glazes for its colour to suggest the shot-silk material...The grey,
watered satin costume of Claes Duyst van Voorhout… was
rendered by adding azurite, an organic red pigment, and black to
the lead white in the top layer, which overlies the lead white/lamp
black mixture. Highlights were blended in with different
proportions of these mixtures, for instance in the arched stroke
circumscribing his left elbow, or thinly scumbled over the grey…
 Portrait of Claes Duyst van Voorhout
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maulleigh/3278030646/sizes/l/in/photolist-5ZELiL-64kXTB-69ihLz-69iyMg-69iPM4-69q4YW-6f88yx-6jrR8f-6vEqhk-
6weUCA-6weVhL-6DJF2L-6DJKVL-6DNjzZ-6DNp8K-6DNYEc-6DSFMd-6DSJXw-6DSUBw-6YqpjZ-6YqqDM-6Yqsm2-6Yup3s-6YCbuG-72SbX8-
7iHLXQ-7iHM6A-7rxgxW-7tg7VF-7tk5SY-7tJNT6-7tJRqk-7tJRXX-7tJYge-7tNJSY-7tNKyo-7tNLV1-7tNPWS-7tNR6Y-e9Bxan-9todEq-e9HceY-
ftWE1m-bjsiTe-aXCLqa-9xAZiZ-btBsVq-bScVh8-9r1cb9-eXMYhP-9DGP2L/
…In the Fitzwilliam Man… the swiftness of painting the draperies
is almost sloppy. Arbitrary splashes of vermilion appear scattered
around the yellow impasto on his right cuff and on the grey
drapery below…

…In…draperies, splashes of solvent have even been allowed to

run down the painting and dissolve paint layers… This can also
be seen in the draperies of the Merry Drinker… and (less
obviously) in the Edinburgh Man... In the Fitzwilliam Man… and
the Merry Drinker…Hals's rapid technique is also evident from the
way he draws a few hairs by scratching through the wet paint.
Similarly the contour of the nose of Young Man with a Skull… is
scratched in. This short-cut device can be associated with Hals's
more swiftly executed paintings, though he never uses it to the
same extent as Rembrandt…
 Portrait of an Unknown Man
http://www-img.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/img/pdp/pdp2/150.jpg
 The Merry Drinker
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi
kipedia/commons/f/f1/Frans_
Hals_-_The_Merry_Drinker_-
_WGA11095.jpg

The Merry Drinker, detail

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pensionado_rca/13012358554/in/photolist-offtdU-mmTB1z-bCvm2q-pW48tY-Tfh9RZ-oFQSiS-hfs8yj-brwFx2-69iPM4-
eiEZdA-6DSJXw-kPRJRy-ooxV4U-75DAE5-kbti1c-4wzisb-o1dwf3-9MjSud-jR2e6y-Ry3fHc-NoaQM-8aDdFS-m5vGsB-5k8S3D-onpBcu-Jk3tmZ-
dJSpTm-oeXEKw-nTBjUN-jR2gG5-5ZELiL-o9YesY-owqLnW-fQkgic-6DJKVL-jV9f5Q-DedRyc-69q4YW-92nQrp-oeQsbK-ZxtYET-TfhbdM-8MFcyp-
7y8aDW-AXUtZ-jR2cJq-ghL4gF-f8N6hb-2diCi-6DNp8K
 Young Man with a Skull
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/young-man-
holding-a-skull-vanitas-116191
http://www.kmska.be/export/sites/kmska/content/Documents/Collectie/Rubensbulletin
_2007/Rubensbulletin_-_1_5.pdf

“…The Prodigal Son was painted on a well-constructed oak panel…

…Much of The Prodigal Son was executed alla prima. The rapid execution…noted in
the broad-brush treatment of the background, can also be illustrated by the
numerous examples of painting wet paint into wet paint…”

Peter Paul Rubens, The prodigal son

http://www.flickr.com/photos/van_zeldenrust/3433078597/sizes/o/in/photolist-6enqEi-6Rti1i-aW3EQB-cCLnEj-doLYzt-
9TrCaU-dtLt7u/http://www.flickr.com/photos/van_zeldenrust/3433078597/sizes/o/in/photolist-6enqEi-6Rti1i-aW3EQB-
cCLnEj-doLYzt-9TrCaU-dtLt7u/
 Peter Paul Rubens, The prodigal son, detail
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68308572@N00/2604601853/sizes/o
/in/photolist-4Yagov-4YahWD-4YewAs-6enqEi-6Rti1i-aW3EQB-
cCLnEj-doLYzt-9TrCaU-dtLt7u/
 Paints ground in walnut oil

Oil Color
We set out to make a paint Da Vinci would use. This is it.
In the tradition of the masters, M. Graham artists’ oil color is made
with pure walnut oil for its brilliance, clarity, texture, and
resistance to fading and yellowing. Working in small batches, we
craft oil colors true to the roots of Renaissance painting: delicately
free-flowing, solvent-free, and with no fillers or additives.

https://mgraham.com/artists-colors/oil-color/
https://kingsframingandartgallery.com/m-graham-professional-oil-paint-1-25-oz-5-oz-
tube