What Every Art Buyer Should Know
This page contains some essential information on very basic topics. It has been presented in a way that is intended to be clear and understandable to the reader who knows very little about the technical side of painting. For this reason, the wording may seem obvious and overly simple to those who are educated in the craft of painting. Please forgive this simplicity. The information is meant only as an introduction to the subject of proper painting craft, not as a comprehensive guide.
Much of the text used in the following explanation has been taken directly from a booklet written by Louis Pomerantz, entitled Is Your Contemporary Painting More Temporary Than You Think? This booklet contains an excellent simple presentation of the essential facts of proper painting craft, which is why it has been used here.
The author wrote this book from the perspective of a professional Conservator of paintings, educated in the proper, scientific methods of restoring and maintaining old and new works of art. He received his training with a private restorer in Paris, at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, at the Central Laboratory of Belgium Museums in Brussels, at the Worcester Art Museum, and at the Brooklyn Museum. He worked as a professional Conservator for museums and private collecters, and was a Fellow of the International Institution of Historic and Artistic Works, holding the office of Secretary-Treasurer of the American Group of that institution.
Put quite simply, this text was written by a man who knew what he was talking about. The information presented here is not a matter of opinion. It is physical fact. For the most part, it's just plain common sense. So protect your fine art investments and take a few minutes to learn the common sense of painting.
All of the following that is written in plain text has been quoted directly from Mr. Pomerantz's booklet. That which is in italics, like this, is an addition or rewording by us in order to clarify some point which we thought was too technical or somewhat confusing. These may also represent relavent comments of our own that we have interjected into the text for the reader's benefit. The presence of three dots "..." indicates a place where text has been omitted from the original source. The breaks between the text have been added by us to aid in the ease of reading.
Why is Good Craftsmanship Important?
What is Good Painting Technique?
How a Painting is Put Together
What to Look for when Buying a Painting
