How do I care for an antique oil painting?

Keep oil paintings away from direct sunlight and dramatic temperature shifts to prevent the canvas from sagging and the paint layers from cracking. Dust the surface gently with a soft, dry brush and avoid using chemical cleaning agents on the painted canvas or the giltwood frame.

What is the difference between an oil painting and a mezzotint?

An oil painting is a unique hand-painted artwork utilising pigmented oils on canvas or board, created directly by the artist or studio. A mezzotint is a printed reproduction created from an engraved copper plate, allowing popular painted portraits to be shared widely across the period.

How can I tell a pastel portrait from a painting?

Pastel portraits are executed with dry pigment sticks on paper and display a powdery, matte texture that sits on the surface of the support. Because of this delicate medium, pastels are invariably framed behind glass to protect the loose pigments from physical disturbance.

Where were these portraits originally displayed?

Elite families hung large oil portraits in the reception rooms and galleries of country houses to display lineage, status, and wealth to visitors. Smaller pastel works and prints were typically kept in private parlours, bedchambers, or study spaces for more intimate viewing.