Old And Rare Oil Paintings

Are you looking for an old oil painting?

Then you’ve come to the right place because I know a thing or two about buying fine art online.

Ok, so I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you personally but I already know we have one thing in common and that’s a love of oil paintings.  Finding good quality art, at the right price, is not always an easy task, even considering the internet which has given us the ability to search a vast number of stores anywhere in the world. Many of the websites I have found that sell vintage paintings do so but also charge an awful lot of money and in some cases more than what I even believe they are really worth.

Despite this fact, you will still be able to find a bargain online if you manage to look in the right places. Whenever I am looking for a new portrait or landscape painting I always start my search on the same site where I have previously found a lot of amazing old oil paintings and more to the point at a really good price. So where is this site, I hear you ask?

Find a vast Range of Antique Oil Paintings by Clicking Here!

For many people a nicely framed fine art painting adds a touch of class to any room, but the kind of art you choose to hang is ultimately down to your own personal taste. I personally prefer much older artwork and have therefore built up a collection of all my favourite paintings and now have my collection hanging in my dining room and throughout the house.

There has been a lot of beautifully crafted artwork over the years dating right back to when oil paintings first became popular in the 15th century – please see below where I have listed some of my favourite examples and also some of the most well known paintings of all time.

The Mona Lisa: This painting is arguably the most famous oil painting in the whole world but few people also know that this painting goes by the name of La Gioconda as well. It was, of course, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century during the Italian Renaissance and can now be found hanging in the Louvre in Paris. Da Vinci started painting the Mona Lisa in Italy in 1503, but didn’t finish his work of art until some sixteen years later in France. Perhaps even more amazing that than is the fact that the painting didn’t become well know until sometime during the mid 19th century.

Napoleon Crossing The Alps: There are five versions to this painting by Jacques-Louis David; the original (as pictured) was painted in 1801, a year after Napoleon crossed the Alps through the Great St. Bernard Pass.  The four other versions all vary slightly in color and also, in some cases, the paintings slightly differ in their subject matter in certain areas.  The names of each of the other fours version are as follows: First Versailles version, Second Versailles version, Charlottenburg version and Belevedere version.

Portrait of Dr. Gachet: There are two versions of the painting that Vincent Van Gogh painted in Paris in 1890, just shortly before he died. The two versions obviously show their differences not only in color but also in detail. They are both, however, of a good friend of Van Gogh, called Doctor Paul Gachet, who is sat at a table with a foxglove plant by his left hand.  In 1990 the painting sold for a then record price of over 80 million dollars, having originally been sold by Van Gogh’s sister in law, in 1897 for 300 francs.

What is oil painting?
This method of painting was first found between the fifth and ninth centuries in western Afghanistan where it was used on armour, such as shields, for decoration or tournament fighting.  The use of oils didn’t reach Europe until the early 15th century but became popular very quickly and by the 1540’s had replaced tempera paint, which was what most artists had previously been using. At this time it was made by boiling linseed oil with various varnishes that help to give the paint its gloss.

Although linseed oil was the most popular choice for painting in the 15th century they also used safflower oil, poppy seed oil and walnut oil, all of which offer different properties and give wide variations to the color and drying time of the paint. Amazingly, some artists believe that oil paintings do not truly completely dry out until they are as much as 80 years old.

The most popular surface to paint on was canvas but you can also find a large range of paintings where the artist has painted oil on to a variety of other surfaces such as paper, slate, wood and even cardboard. Despite wood panelling being heavier and harder to move around and also a lot more expensive, it was often used with oil when artists wanted to paint their subject in fine detail.

Watch this fine selection of Vincent Van Gogh paintings:

Have a look at what other sites are saying about art:

The Influence of History Painting
Nevertheless history painting and 19th century art in general had a much bigger influence as it is normally noticed. Great parts of the artistic perception of modern photographers were shaped by 19th century art.

Oil paintings
Paintings are the most beautiful creation of man, that has the power to exert a pull on the viewer. Abstract oil paintings are gorgeous art forms, and these antique elements continue to mark their stand through generations.

Painting Small Impressions
Autumn Sparkle–Original Landscape Oil Painting. Although they are far and few between, it is the sunny days of autumn that inspire many of my landscape paintings.

Art Materials Required for Oil Painting Courses
Embarking an oil painting workshop means purchasing specialist art equipment. The beginner in oil painting will require a list of recommended materials to get started.

About Ancient Art Replicas
Whether it’s an ancient painting by a Greek artist or statues of FooDogs, the replica artists or craftsmen make a great effort to recreate the original work. High quality replica paintings are usually hand-painted on canvas.

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