… Titian was most well-known for his bold use of colour, which he achieved through seeking out rare pigments and using them in rich and saturated forms, as well as carefully balancing complementary colours together. He also focused on the effect of light on colour, and experimented with light effects to emphasize his contrasting colours. His work exemplifies the Venetian preference for colour, a definitive aspect of Venetian art as opposed to that of Florence. …
Rubens and his painting techniques learned from the Old Masters
by Rosily Roberts
… He used a large amount of greys, blues and greens and a variety of flesh tones, often incorporating deep and luscious reds and gold in exuberance. He employed various undertones to create the illusion of depth, and define light and textures as realistically as possible. He used an abundance of colour, which he felt would dramatize his images, and applied the paint onto the canvas in thick layers in order to make the image more prominent. In order to accentuate the tones of his subjects in various lights, he used a wide range of flesh tones. He is known for painting human flesh in an expressive way, emphasizing the body’s curves and bumps, or how it looks when engaged in dynamic movement. …
Rembrandt’s life and painting techniques
by Rosily Roberts
… While the exact technique Rembrandt used when creating his impastoed surfaces is unknown, it is believed that he built up thick layers of opaque paint, allowing each layer to dry instead of mixing the paint on the surface while wet. After executing highlights in thick layers, he would wholly or partially over these with thin paint used as a glaze. …
Rembrandt’s mistress
by Rosily Roberts
… In 1641, a fourth child, Titus was born, and survived. However, Saskia was unwell after the birth. In 1642, she made a will leaving Rembrandt and Titus most of her fortune, with the stipulation that Rembrandt’s share would be lost if he ever remarried. She died shortly after, aged only 30, most likely from the plague or TB, and Rembrandt was left alone with a young baby to care for. …
… The tragedy that marked Rembrandt’s personal life never stopped him from painting however, and he continued to work up until his death.
Rembrandt’s finances
by Rosily Roberts
For the majority of his life, Rembrandt’s main source of income was private commissions for portraits. While Rembrandt did not keep records of his work shop sales, it is estimated by the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam was around 340 guilders. This was the time when a skilled craftsman earned about 250 guilders a year.
He was also able to earn money as a teacher; it is known that he had around 50 pupils who paid him well for a year’s tuition. In addition to selling his own art, he acted as an art dealer, selling works by his pupils, as well as
Joshua Reynolds and his attempts to paint like the Old Masters
by Rosily Roberts
… He venerated the Old Masters for creating works which stood the test of time, and felt that no modern work could compete with such paintings. He noted the style and technique of many of the Renaissance masters, including Titian, Michelangelo, Tintoretto and Veronese, whose styles manifest themselves in his confident use of colour. He combined techniques such as chiaroscuro, the dramatic use of light and dark, and the classical contrapposto pose, in which the subject supports their weight on one leg. He worked to marry classical grace with naturalism, creating convincing, realistic portraits that retained a sense of poise and elegance. …
