How do I care for an oil painting on canvas?

Keep paintings away from direct sunlight, extreme temperature fluctuations, and high humidity to prevent the canvas from sagging and the oil paint from cracking. Dust the surface very gently with a soft, dry brush, and avoid using any water, chemical cleaners, or moisture on the painted area.

How do I identify the period of a canvas painting?

Examine the stretcher bars, nails or staples, and the type of canvas weave, as older pieces often feature handmade wooden stretchers and hand-forged tacks. Style, framing methods, and artist signatures or exhibition labels also offer reliable clues to the era in which the work was created.

What is the difference between a portrait and a still life?

A portrait focuses on capturing the likeness, personality, and expression of a specific human subject, sometimes accompanied by pets or intimate interior settings. A still life arranges inanimate objects like flowers, vessels, or provisions to study light, shadow, and compositional balance.

How do impressionist works differ from traditional academic paintings?

Impressionist paintings employ visible, energetic brushstrokes and vibrant unblended colours to capture the shifting effects of natural light and atmosphere. Traditional academic works prioritize smooth, blended finishes, highly detailed realism, and formal narrative subjects.