Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
Do oil paintings darken over time?
1 Answer
Yes, oil paintings darken over time. As oil paint is made of pigment particles, the range of substances that are used as pigment in oil paint can render certain colors susceptible to aging. Slowing the aging process for an oil painting involves storing your painting properly and keeping the work out of exposed sunlight. Temperature control and humidity are also important in preserving the life of an oil painting and slowing the aging process.
To maintain oil paintings that you purchased for your home, experts suggest that you keep them out of direct 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 direct 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
Anthony Van Dyck workshop (Baroque) - 17th century figure painting - Deposition
By Anthony van Dyck
Located in Varmo, IT
Follower of Sir Anthony Van Dyck (17th century) - The Deposition.
100 x 130 cm without frame, 117 x 147 cm with frame.
Antique oil painting on canvas, in a lacquered and gilded woo...
Category
Mid-17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Orientalist: "Arabian Horsemen" dated 1903 André Chaumière
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Fantasia of Arabian Horsemen" dated 1903
André Chaumière (French, XlX-XX)
Oil on canvas
Handcrafted original wood frame with bronze applique
20 3/4 x 12 3/4 (28 1/2 x 20 frame) inc...
Category
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Repos dans un champs de coquelicots - Pointillist Landscape Oil by Yvonne Canu
By Yvonne Canu
Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Signed pointillist oil on panel figures in landscape by French neo-impressionist painter Yvonne Canu. This stunning piece depicts a couple resting under a parasol in a field of wildf...
Category
1960s Pointillist Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Colourful Impasto Abstract Wild Flower Painting by Contemporary British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Colourful Impasto Abstract Wild Flower Painting by Contemporary British Artist, Evelina Vine
Art measures 8 x 8 inches
Frame measures 16 x 16 inches
Category
2010s Contemporary Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil
Untitled (Blue Bunny)
By Hunt Slonem
Located in Boston, MA
Artist: Slonem, Hunt
Title: Untitled (Blue Bunny)
Date: 2021
Medium: Oil on Wood
Unframed Dimensions: 10" x 8"
Framed Dimensions: 14.5" x 12.5"
Signature: Signed Verso
Edition:...
Category
2010s Contemporary Paintings
Materials
Oil
Pocket Blue Tit's Egg, Original Painting, Egg , Nature, Still life
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Blue Tit's Egg is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a nod to baroque still...
Category
2010s Realist Still-life Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas