17th Century Wall Art
When you search for 17th century wall art, you encounter oil portraits, maritime scenes and intricate textile panels shaped by Baroque aesthetics.
17th Century Wall Art
Buyers browsing 17th century wall art typically encounter oil paintings on canvas or panel, alongside mezzotint prints, embroidered silk panels and antique maps. Portraits of nobility, military officers and local gentry dominate the selection, often attributed to British, Dutch, Flemish or Italian schools.
The material also extends to framed cartography and still life compositions depicting fruit and game. While many pieces originate directly from the seventeen-hundreds, selections occasionally include later interpretations and revival pieces created in subsequent centuries.
Subjects range from grand classical narratives and biblical depictions to intimate portrayals of merchants and children. The works span various regional styles of the period, from the dramatic light of Dutch Golden Age painting to the structured elegance of English court portraiture.
Materials and construction methods
Makers of this era predominantly applied oil paint onto hand-woven linen canvas or prepared wooden panels. Pigments derived from minerals and organic sources were mixed with binding oils, building up rich glazes that darkened and deepened with age.
Printmakers utilised copper plates to produce detailed mezzotints, working the surface with rocker tools to achieve subtle tonal gradations. Textile pieces involved meticulous hand-embroidery using silk and metallic threads applied to woven backings.
Frames incorporated carved wood finished with layers of gesso and gold leaf to create ornate borders suited to domestic display. Cartography combined engraved paper maps with hand-applied watercolours, secured behind early glass panes.
Listings feature oil on canvas, wood panels, giltwood frames and hand-embroidered silk textiles from the seventeenth century.
Markers of execution and preservation
Quality in these works rests upon the dexterity of the brushwork, particularly in the rendering of textiles, facial expressions and hands. Master artists and established studio circles achieved a lifelike presence and depth of shadow that lesser workshop copies missed.
The condition of the canvas and pigment layer heavily influences the integrity of the piece, as surface cracking, historical overpainting and canvas relining alter the original appearance. Intact original frames and clear attribution to documented painters or schools elevate the standing of an artwork.
Sir Peter Lely·Sir Godfrey Kneller·John Smith·John Hayls·Pieter Borsseler
The 17th Century Wall Art Glossary
- Mezzotint
- A printmaking process where the copper plate is roughened uniformly to produce dark backgrounds, then scraped to create highlights. This tonal method allowed printmakers to replicate the soft shadows of oil paintings.
- Pentimento
- An alteration in a painting evidenced by visible traces of previous brushstrokes beneath the final layer of paint. This phenomenon reveals changes made by the artist during the creative process.
- Baroque
- The dominant artistic style of the seventeenth century characterised by dynamic movement, dramatic contrast between light and dark, and deep emotional intensity. It spans Italian, Flemish, Spanish and Dutch regional variations.
- Gesso
- A plaster mixture applied to wood panels or frames to prepare a smooth surface for painting or gilding. It provides a stable foundation for the final layers of oil paint or gold leaf.
- Cartography
- The study and practice of making maps, which in this period often included decorative cartouches and hand-coloured borders. Antique county maps served both navigational and decorative functions on domestic walls.
17th Century Wall Art: Frequently Asked Questions
Were these artworks always framed?
Works of this stature were commissioned specifically to be housed in substantial frames that reflected the status of the owner. Giltwood and carved wooden surrounds protected the edges of the canvas and completed the visual impact.
Many surviving pieces retain their period frames, though some have been re-framed in subsequent centuries. Original framing significantly enhances the historical context of the wall art.
How should I care for oil paintings on canvas?
Oil paintings require stable indoor humidity and protection from direct sunlight to prevent the canvas from slackening and the pigments from fading. Keeping the environment free from rapid temperature fluctuations preserves the stability of the paint layer.
Dusting should be performed gently using a soft, dry brush without applying moisture or cleaning solutions. Professional conservators should handle any structural repairs or surface cleaning.
What is the difference between an oil painting and a mezzotint?
Oil paintings are unique hand-executed works created by applying pigmented oils directly to canvas or wooden panels. Each brushstroke is singular and bears the direct touch of the artist or studio.
Mezzotints are printed multiples created from an engraved copper plate, designed to reproduce popular painted portraits for a wider audience. While printed on paper rather than canvas, they shared the walls of period homes alongside original oils.