Painters and Painting Tools

	Painters and Painting Tools
RELATED PAGES Sculptors Illuminators & Illustrators Scribes & Scribal Tools Aprons	HOME • BLOG • SITEMAP • BOOKSTORE
A demonstration of some of the tools used by limners and illuminators, via illustrations of them at work and relevant examples of the tools in museum collections and other websites with related artifacts. Notice the development of different types of easels, palettes, and paintbrushes. (For illuminators and book-illustrators, see this linkspage.) See also Cennini's Libro dell' Arte, and also these links. A painter (with a scrivener), Reiner Musterbuch (ÖNB 507, fol. 2v), c. 1200-1220 A painter from a fresco at Taufers im Münstertal, c. 1218-1230 Paint palettes made from oyster shells, London, 13th century Painting an image in a shrine (fol. 209v) and the devil tries to distract St. Dunstan (fol. 248r), the Smithfield Decretals (Brit. Lib. Royal 10 E IV), c. 1300-1340 A monk painting a fresco of the Virgin Mary; his ladder is broken by the devil but he is then rescued by the Virgin, the Queen Mary Psalter (British Library Royal 2 B VII, fol. 211r), c. 1310-1320 He þat portrayeþ ymages and liknesses of þinges ben y-cleped peyntours … Peyntours draweth first lynes and liknesses of þe ymage þat schal be peynted and peynteþ þanne with dyuers colours. De proprietatibus rerum (British Library MS Add. 27944) Man mixing colored paint, Omne Bonum (British Library MS Royal 6 E VI, fol. 329), 1360-1375 Timarete (fol. 86r), Eirene (fol. 92r), and Iaia (fol. 100v), De mulieribus claris (BNF Fr. 598), beginning of the 15th century Painters at work, Tafel van den Kersten Ghelove (PML M.691, fol. 90r), c. 1405-1410 Timarete (fol. 68v) and Irene (fol. 73v), De mulieribus claris (British Library Royal 16 G V), early 15th century Timarete (with an assistant grinding pigment) in a 15th century illustration from De mulieribus claris The instruction of the young, Aristotle's Politics, Ethics, and Economics (BNF Fr. 22500, fol. 248), 15th century Two men paint a house while a third mixes paint, Bible historiale (PML M.394, fol. 145r), first quarter of the 15th century Timarete (fol. 90) and Irene (fol. 96), De mulieribus claris (British Library Royal 20 C V), first quarter of the 15th century St. Luke, prayer book (PML M.944, fol. 75v), c. 1420 St. Luke, the Hours of William Porter (PML M.105, fol. 35r), c. 1420-1425 I know a woman today, named Anastasia, who is so learned and skilled in painting manuscript borders and miniature backgrounds that one cannot find an artisan in all the city of Paris – where the best in the world are found – who can surpass her, nor who can paint flowers and details as delicately as she does, nor whose work is more highly esteemed, no matter how rich or precious the book is. People cannot stop talking about her. And I know this from experience, for she has executed several things for me, which stand out among the ornamental borders of the great masters. Christine de Pisan, Le livre de la Cité des Dames Forese da Rabatta and Giotto, The Decameron (BNF Fr. 239, fol. 174v), second quarter of the 15th century St. Luke, a book of hours (PML M.453, fol. 14v), c. 1425-1430 St. Luke by Rogier van der Weyden, 1435 Irene (fol. 73v) and Thamar (fol. 68v), De mulieribus claris (British Library Royal 16 G V), c. 1440 A copyist-illuminator at work, Mare historiarum (BNF Latin 4915, fol. 1), 1447-1455; see Copistes, enlumineurs et mécènes for discussion of the various details St. Luke, The Hours of Philip of Burgundy (KB 76 F 2, fol. 255r), c. 1450-1460 St. Luke, The Hours of Jacques de Brégilles (British Library Yates Thompson 4, fol. 14v), c. 1460 Euphranor paints a statue, Facta et dicta memorabilia (BNF Fr. 289, fol. 395), second half of the 15th century St. Luke, the Hours of Anne of France (PML M.677, fol. 29v), 1473 The Children of Mercury, Biblia Pauperum (ÖNB 3085, fol. 25r), 1475 Mercury and His Children, the Wolfegg Housebook, c. 1475-1485 St. Luke by Gabriel Maelesskircher, 1478 Color, Livre des propriétés des choses (BNF Fr. 9140, fol. 361v), 1480 St. Luke in The Golden Legend (BNF Fr. 245, fol. 141), c. 1480-1490 St. Luke, the Hours of Louis de Laval (BNF Latin 920, fol. 32v) St. Luke in a book of hours (Bibl. Mazarine, MS 0483, fol. 013v), c. 1490-1499 Zeuxis painting nude models, Roman de la Rose (British Library Harley 4425, fol. 142), c. 1490-1500 St. Luke by Vranck van der Stock St. Luke in a book of hours (KB 135 G 19, fol. 27v), c. 1495 Timarete, De mulieribus claris (BNF Fr. 599, fol. 22v), 15th-16th centuries St. Luke, a book of hours (PML M.390, fol. 15r), c. 1500 St. Luke in the Hours of Joanna I of Castile (British Library Add 35313, fol. 12v), c. 1500 Portrait of a young artist, c. 1500 Laodamia, Ovid's Heroides (BNF Fr. 874, fol. 105), beginning of the 16th century St. Luke, book of hours (Douce 112, fol. 23v), beginning of the 16th century St. Luke, book of hours (Douce 256, fol. 15r), beginning of the 16th century Niklaß Kerner, Mendel Hausbuch (Amb. 317.2, fol. 123v), 1505 The wise man and the fool in a book of love poetry (British Library MS Stowe 955, fol. 9r), early 16th century St. Luke in a book of hours (MMW 10 E 3, fol. 19v), c. 1500-1525 St. Luke, a book of hours (PML M.250, fol. 17r), c. 1500-1510 The Miracle of St. Francis of Paola, 16th century St. Luke by Niklaus Manuel St. Luke, Gospels of Luke and John (British Library Royal 1 E V, fol. 3), after 1519 St. Luke, a book of hours (PML M.632, fol. 15r), c. 1520 Saint Luke, c. 1520 St. Luke in a book of hours (MMW 10 F 33, fol. 15v) by Jehan de Luc, 1524 St. Luke by Quentin Massys, c. 1530 St. Luke by Maerten van Heemskerck, 1532 St. Luke by Pieter Coecke van Aelst, c. 1535-1540 St. Luke by Maerten van Heemskerck, c. 1545 Self-portrait of Caterina van Hemessen, 1548 St. Luke by Maerten van Heemskerck, 1550-1553 Self-portrait of Sofonisba Anguissola, c. 1556 Bernardino Campi Painting Sofonisba Anguissola by Sofonisba Anguissola, 1557-1559 Self-portrait of Anthonis Mor, 1558 A sheet with a number of studies by Virgil Solis Landscape with ruins and a painter by Virgil Solis St. Luke by Giorgio Vasari, after 1565 St. Luke by El Greco, before 1567 The Painter, Das Ständebuch, 1568 A painter painting the portrait of a seated lady, 16th century A young painter, seen from behind by Annibale Caracci, c. 1575-1609 Young painter at an easel by Annibale Caracci, c. 1580 Oil colors: The famous Master Eyckius discovered oil as a convenience for painters, New discoveries; the sciences, inventions, and discoveries of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as represented in 24 engravings issued in the early 1580's by Stradanus* Otto Venius painting, surrounded by his family, 1584 Portrait of the artist and his family by Jacob Willemsz Delff, c. 1590 Self-portrait of Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem The unfortunate painter and his family by Marcus Gheeraerts Painter, wearing a cap with a narrow edge, painting, sitting at his easel Young man seated, holding a palette by Jacopo da Empoli St. Luke by Marten de Vos, 1602 Portrait of Jorge Manuel Theotokopoulos by El Greco, c. 1603

A demonstration of some of the tools used by limners and illuminators, via illustrations of them at work and relevant examples of the tools in museum collections and other websites with related artifacts.

Notice the development of different types of easels, palettes, and paintbrushes.

(For illuminators and book-illustrators, see this linkspage.)

See also Cennini's Libro dell' Arte, and also these links.

A painter (with a scrivener), Reiner Musterbuch (ÖNB 507, fol. 2v), c. 1200-1220
A painter from a fresco at Taufers im Münstertal, c. 1218-1230
Paint palettes made from oyster shells, London, 13th century
Painting an image in a shrine (fol. 209v) and the devil tries to distract St. Dunstan (fol. 248r), the Smithfield Decretals (Brit. Lib. Royal 10 E IV), c. 1300-1340
A monk painting a fresco of the Virgin Mary; his ladder is broken by the devil but he is then rescued by the Virgin, the Queen Mary Psalter (British Library Royal 2 B VII, fol. 211r), c. 1310-1320

He þat portrayeþ ymages and liknesses of þinges ben y-cleped peyntours … Peyntours draweth first lynes and liknesses of þe ymage þat schal be peynted and peynteþ þanne with dyuers colours.

De proprietatibus rerum
(British Library MS Add. 27944)

Man mixing colored paint, Omne Bonum (British Library MS Royal 6 E VI, fol. 329), 1360-1375
Timarete (fol. 86r), Eirene (fol. 92r), and Iaia (fol. 100v), De mulieribus claris (BNF Fr. 598), beginning of the 15th century
Painters at work, Tafel van den Kersten Ghelove (PML M.691, fol. 90r), c. 1405-1410
Timarete (fol. 68v) and Irene (fol. 73v), De mulieribus claris (British Library Royal 16 G V), early 15th century
Timarete (with an assistant grinding pigment) in a 15th century illustration from De mulieribus claris
The instruction of the young, Aristotle's Politics, Ethics, and Economics (BNF Fr. 22500, fol. 248), 15th century
Two men paint a house while a third mixes paint, Bible historiale (PML M.394, fol. 145r), first quarter of the 15th century
Timarete (fol. 90) and Irene (fol. 96), De mulieribus claris (British Library Royal 20 C V), first quarter of the 15th century
St. Luke, prayer book (PML M.944, fol. 75v), c. 1420
St. Luke, the Hours of William Porter (PML M.105, fol. 35r), c. 1420-1425

I know a woman today, named Anastasia, who is so learned and skilled in painting manuscript borders and miniature backgrounds that one cannot find an artisan in all the city of Paris – where the best in the world are found – who can surpass her, nor who can paint flowers and details as delicately as she does, nor whose work is more highly esteemed, no matter how rich or precious the book is. People cannot stop talking about her. And I know this from experience, for she has executed several things for me, which stand out among the ornamental borders of the great masters.

Christine de Pisan, Le livre de la Cité des Dames

Forese da Rabatta and Giotto, The Decameron (BNF Fr. 239, fol. 174v), second quarter of the 15th century
St. Luke, a book of hours (PML M.453, fol. 14v), c. 1425-1430
St. Luke by Rogier van der Weyden, 1435
Irene (fol. 73v) and Thamar (fol. 68v), De mulieribus claris (British Library Royal 16 G V), c. 1440
A copyist-illuminator at work, Mare historiarum (BNF Latin 4915, fol. 1), 1447-1455; see Copistes, enlumineurs et mécènes for discussion of the various details
St. Luke, The Hours of Philip of Burgundy (KB 76 F 2, fol. 255r), c. 1450-1460
St. Luke, The Hours of Jacques de Brégilles (British Library Yates Thompson 4, fol. 14v), c. 1460
Euphranor paints a statue, Facta et dicta memorabilia (BNF Fr. 289, fol. 395), second half of the 15th century
St. Luke, the Hours of Anne of France (PML M.677, fol. 29v), 1473
The Children of Mercury, Biblia Pauperum (ÖNB 3085, fol. 25r), 1475
Mercury and His Children, the Wolfegg Housebook, c. 1475-1485
St. Luke by Gabriel Maelesskircher, 1478
Color, Livre des propriétés des choses (BNF Fr. 9140, fol. 361v), 1480
St. Luke in The Golden Legend (BNF Fr. 245, fol. 141), c. 1480-1490
St. Luke, the Hours of Louis de Laval (BNF Latin 920, fol. 32v)
St. Luke in a book of hours (Bibl. Mazarine, MS 0483, fol. 013v), c. 1490-1499
Zeuxis painting nude models, Roman de la Rose (British Library Harley 4425, fol. 142), c. 1490-1500
St. Luke by Vranck van der Stock
St. Luke in a book of hours (KB 135 G 19, fol. 27v), c. 1495
Timarete, De mulieribus claris (BNF Fr. 599, fol. 22v), 15th-16th centuries
St. Luke, a book of hours (PML M.390, fol. 15r), c. 1500
St. Luke in the Hours of Joanna I of Castile (British Library Add 35313, fol. 12v), c. 1500
Portrait of a young artist, c. 1500
Laodamia, Ovid's Heroides (BNF Fr. 874, fol. 105), beginning of the 16th century
St. Luke, book of hours (Douce 112, fol. 23v), beginning of the 16th century
St. Luke, book of hours (Douce 256, fol. 15r), beginning of the 16th century
Niklaß Kerner, Mendel Hausbuch (Amb. 317.2, fol. 123v), 1505
The wise man and the fool in a book of love poetry (British Library MS Stowe 955, fol. 9*r), early 16th century
St. Luke in a book of hours (MMW 10 E 3, fol. 19v), c. 1500-1525
St. Luke, a book of hours (PML M.250, fol. 17r), c. 1500-1510
The Miracle of St. Francis of Paola, 16th century
St. Luke by Niklaus Manuel
St. Luke, Gospels of Luke and John (British Library Royal 1 E V, fol. 3), after 1519
St. Luke, a book of hours (PML M.632, fol. 15r), c. 1520
Saint Luke, c. 1520
St. Luke in a book of hours (MMW 10 F 33, fol. 15v) by Jehan de Luc, 1524
St. Luke by Quentin Massys, c. 1530
St. Luke by Maerten van Heemskerck, 1532
St. Luke by Pieter Coecke van Aelst, c. 1535-1540
St. Luke by Maerten van Heemskerck, c. 1545
Self-portrait of Caterina van Hemessen, 1548
St. Luke by Maerten van Heemskerck, 1550-1553
Self-portrait of Sofonisba Anguissola, c. 1556
Bernardino Campi Painting Sofonisba Anguissola by Sofonisba Anguissola, 1557-1559
Self-portrait of Anthonis Mor, 1558
A sheet with a number of studies by Virgil Solis
Landscape with ruins and a painter by Virgil Solis
St. Luke by Giorgio Vasari, after 1565
St. Luke by El Greco, before 1567
The Painter, Das Ständebuch, 1568
A painter painting the portrait of a seated lady, 16th century
A young painter, seen from behind by Annibale Caracci, c. 1575-1609
Young painter at an easel by Annibale Caracci, c. 1580
Oil colors: The famous Master Eyckius discovered oil as a convenience for painters, New discoveries; the sciences, inventions, and discoveries of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance as represented in 24 engravings issued in the early 1580's by Stradanus
Otto Venius painting, surrounded by his family, 1584
Portrait of the artist and his family by Jacob Willemsz Delff, c. 1590
Self-portrait of Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem
The unfortunate painter and his family by Marcus Gheeraerts
Painter, wearing a cap with a narrow edge, painting, sitting at his easel
Young man seated, holding a palette by Jacopo da Empoli
St. Luke by Marten de Vos, 1602
Portrait of Jorge Manuel Theotokopoulos by El Greco, c. 1603