{"id":204,"date":"2023-03-22T21:59:19","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T01:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eleonora.nyc\/?p=204"},"modified":"2026-09-23T17:02:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T21:02:23","slug":"origins-of-oil-painting-more-ancient-and-beyond-the-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eleonora.nyc\/fr\/origins-of-oil-painting-more-ancient-and-beyond-the-west","title":{"rendered":"Origins of Oil Painting: More Ancient and Beyond the West"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For a long time, oil painting was taught as a breakthrough that began in Europe, especially in the 15th century. But discoveries from 7th-century Buddhist murals in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, remind us that history is often more layered, interconnected, and surprising than the simplest version of the story<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Virgin<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Virgin and Child with Four Angels ca. 1510\u201315 by
Gerard David<\/a> who followed the legacy of Jan van Eyck.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The update that will follow is worth adding in our textbooks. If you studied art history, you learned that oil painting was firstly introduced in the 15th century in Europe. It's often associated with Jan van Eyck<\/a> and Early Netherlandish painting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the emergence of oil painting techniques, egg tempera or water base paint was the less enduring and less flexible norm. Besides it's hard to compare murals with transportable art on panels or canvas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An International Team of Scientists Made a Major Discovery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2008, a team of international scientists and conservators made a major discovery. They identified and studied samples of drying oils inside caves in Bamiyan<\/a>, Afghanistan. The works of art are Buddhist murals painted in the mid-7th century A.D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

World Historical Context<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might have heard of the Buddhist heritage<\/a> of the region which spread along the silk road. Not to mention that since twenty years the Talibans have been trying to annihilate the site linked to the spread of Buddhism. In 2001, they destroyed two large standing Buddha figures, thought to date from the 5th century. In the past, other groups such as mongols looted the monasteries close the city and the caves. On another occasion a Mughal emperor had the statues defaced. Obviously this is a hotspot, and scientists are nervous to do some research before something else happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Buddha<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khotan kingdom, ca. 6th century<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Khotan prefecture, Dandan-Uiliq Water-based pigment on mud plaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metropolitan Museum of Arts.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technical Aspect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Out of the 50 caves, 12 were painted with oil painting technique, using perhaps walnut and poppy seed drying oils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The artists who painted the Buddhas used a wide range of pigments and ingredients, and even included the use of a final varnish layer. On canvas, the varnishing step improves the aesthetic finish of an oil painting and protects the art from environmental damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the history of the region and, as a matter of fact it's miraculous that they weren't destroyed on top of undergoing natural environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The murals show scenes with Buddhas in vermilion robes sitting cross-legged amid palm leaves and mythical creatures.<\/strong><\/p>\nEuropean Synchrotron Radiation Facility<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

\n
\"A
A painting fragment from the Foladi cave<\/a>.
This painting of a Buddha figure was identified as an oil painting (\u00a9 NRICPT).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Scientists have proved, thanks to experiments performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), that the paintings were made of oil, hundreds of years before the technique was \u201cinvented\u201d or experimented with in Europe. Results are published today in the peer-reviewed Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry<\/a>. J. Anal. At. Spectrom.<\/em> 23, 820 (2008).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who's Going to Update Our History Books and Review Discrepancies When New Findings Are Revealed to the World?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It isn't an easy process to \"update\" our knowledge because it reshapes our world view somewhat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I came across this story when I was reading an article on the Gandhara Buddha statue on display at the State Museum of Berlin<\/a>. Owing to a curiosity I have for Berlin museums and I planned to put this statue on my \"to do\" list. This is how I came across this incredible information: First Oil Painting technique actually used hundreds year before we thought. Why is it significant? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers uncover something new everyday. In today's age we're bombarder with information to read, to listen to, to watch, endlessly. The number of hours everyone has in a day is the same for all. How do we manage to select what's important and relevant? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Whether in commerce, science, or politics \u2014 history remembers the artists.<\/strong><\/p>\nNaval Ravikant<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It's a test of flexibility, how humanity as a whole learns and adapts to new truths, changes its mind and worldview. What I find fascinating in this story, that is again shifting a \"first\" towards the East, is the commonalities between East and West. In both cases, artists of the past were seeking to depict the divine. They depicted beauty, grace, gratitude and upright themes even if we often associate them with religion or history. In Europe through Christian themes, in the East through Buddhist themes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of the caves, it is likely that we will never find out who painted them, but is it really important? Maybe the most impactful art we will ever see will not be associated with the name of an artist to copy or idealize. The subject is what matters, and here the artists, tried to depict scenes of people meditating together and tried to make it colorful, beautiful, and lasting. They put thought into coming up with a technique, this is effort, it had to develop through trial and error. Eventually, it was worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ars longa, vita brevis<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This can be rendered into English as <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Life is short,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and art (craft\/skill) <\/em>long,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

opportunity fleeting,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

experimentations perilous\/<\/em>treacherous,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and judgment difficult.<\/p>\nLatin translation of an aphorism coming originally from Greek<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Art is long, life is short : <\/strong>learning one's craft takes so long that a lifetime may not be adequate or works of art may outlive their creators<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Mural painting of two Buddhas, Bamiyan, c. 650AD
Source: ESRF<\/a>, (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) Grenoble, France.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Principal Publication and Authors Involved in the Discovery:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Scientific Articles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n