Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
Does sunlight affect oil paintings?
1 Answer
Yes, sunlight affects oil paintings. Keep your oil paintings away from direct sunlight.
To maintain oil paintings that you purchased for your home, experts suggest that you keep them out of sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sunlight coming in from a window can fade the colors in your painting. Do not hang your oil painting near a heat source or where it can get wet (bathrooms and kitchens are not safe for your oil painting).
You may wish to dust your oil painting so that layers of dust don’t begin to gather on its surface. This should only be considered to remove loose dust. Never spray any chemical substance on your oil painting. Do not use a damp cloth to dust your oil painting. (Again, your painting should not be exposed to moisture.)
To remove loose dust, use a soft brush that measures approximately one to two inches wide with natural-hair bristles. Do not use a dust cloth or a feather duster, as those items may catch or leave threads or feathers behind. Do not apply pressure or dust your painting for an extended period of time.
If you think that your oil painting is considerably dirty or believe that other issues may be at work, experts strongly suggest that you consult with a professional conservator.
Read about how to arrange your wall art and find oil paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
To maintain oil paintings that you purchased for your home, experts suggest that you keep them out of sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sunlight coming in from a window can fade the colors in your painting. Do not hang your oil painting near a heat source or where it can get wet (bathrooms and kitchens are not safe for your oil painting).
You may wish to dust your oil painting so that layers of dust don’t begin to gather on its surface. This should only be considered to remove loose dust. Never spray any chemical substance on your oil painting. Do not use a damp cloth to dust your oil painting. (Again, your painting should not be exposed to moisture.)
To remove loose dust, use a soft brush that measures approximately one to two inches wide with natural-hair bristles. Do not use a dust cloth or a feather duster, as those items may catch or leave threads or feathers behind. Do not apply pressure or dust your painting for an extended period of time.
If you think that your oil painting is considerably dirty or believe that other issues may be at work, experts strongly suggest that you consult with a professional conservator.
Read about how to arrange your wall art and find oil paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2024
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Shop for Oil Paintings on 1stDibs
Colors of Tuscany, Oil Painting
By Lisa Elley
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A charming house nestles in the rolling hills of Tuscany. Colorful flowers bloom in the foreground while a lush vineyard stretches out in the background. The th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist More Art
Materials
Oil
'Threesome' - 1960s Vintage Mountain Landscape Painting, Deer in Yellowstone
Located in Denver, CO
Original vintage 1960s landscape painting with deer grazing in a meadow in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming by Harold Skene (1883-1978). Golden Aspen Trees in autumn foliage with p...
Category
1960s American Modern Animal Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Red Houses No. 1, Norway by Calo Carratala - Snowy landscape painting
Located in Paris, FR
Red Houses No. 1 is a unique oil on laminated wood painting from the Norway series by Spanish contemporary artist Calo Carratalá, dimensions are 46 × 74 cm (18.1 × 29.1 in).
The art...
Category
2010s Contemporary Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Anatomy Lesson No. 77 (Figurative Painting, Man on Green by Robert Goldstrom)
Located in Hudson, NY
Anatomy Lesson, No. 77, 2024 (modern oil painting of a nude male figure against a green background)
oil on linen
12 x 12 inches
13 x 13 inches with a black floater frame
wire backing...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
1951 Monhegan, Maine MUSHROOMS painting by Morris Shulman ex. Rehn Gallery
Located in Exton, PA
Wild period abstract expressionist painting by Morris Shulman. The painting is egg tempera on Masonite measuring 32" x 22". Signed M Shulman and dated '51 at the lower right. Titled...
Category
1950s Modern Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil
18th century portrait of sisters Lady Catherine and lady Jane Brydges
By James Maubert
Located in Bath, Somerset
This large double portrait depicts the sisters Lady Catherine and Lady Jane Brydges, the daughters of John Brydges, the Marquess of Carnarvon (1703-1727). They are seated on a stone...
Category
Early 18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil