What is a pastoral landscape?

A pastoral landscape depicts idealized rural life, typically featuring shepherds, cattle, milkmaids, and rustic cottages in gentle countryside settings. These compositions often incorporate classical elements, such as distant ruins or Italianate river views, reflecting an eighteenth-century appreciation for tranquil nature.

How do I hang an oil painting?

Oil paintings on canvas or board require secure wall fixings suited to the weight of the timber and giltwood frame. Use picture wire rated well above the weight of the artwork. Position paintings away from direct sunlight, radiators, and damp walls to protect both the canvas support and the painted surface from environmental stress.

Are watercolours different from oil paintings?

Watercolours utilise water-soluble pigments on paper supports, producing lighter, translucent effects that require protective framing behind glass. They are sensitive to light and benefit from careful placement. Oil paintings use durable pigmented oils on canvas or wood boards, offering richer textures and greater resilience against environmental factors.

How can I tell the period of a frame?

Period frames often display hand-carved wooden moulding, gesso details, and genuine gold leaf application that shows subtle wear consistent with age. Construction joints at the corners can also indicate eighteenth or nineteenth-century craftsmanship. Later replacement frames tend to use modern synthetic materials or machine-cut mouldings lacking the depth and patina of original giltwood.