Antique Art

Art is timeless. A projection of likes and interests portrayed through creative choices. Antique art is considered that produced before the 20th C, and includes a wide number of mediums including antique prints, posters, paintings, drawings, photographs, sculpture, oil paintings, etchings, carvings, mixed media, portraits and watercolours. Choosing a piece of antique art is subjective, it very much depends on personal preference and style you are drawn to or the feelings a piece may evoke. 

History of Art

The history of art is a hugely vast area. Art is considered the earliest form of human expression and has provided documentation of civilization, cultures and historical events, throughout the ages. There are many mediums of art, with tools and materials used to produce such pieces developing over the years: for example from cave paintings produced using flints, stones and wood tools to intricate carvings, to Egyptian art, and then to such art produced during the Baroque, Neoclassical, Romanticism and Renaissance period.

Antique Oil Paintings

Oil painting is thought to be one of the oldest forms of painting, dating back to the 5th C it still remains a very popular type of art. The value of antique oil paintings will vary; it will often be based upon the artist’s notoriety, whilst the quality of the canvas will also come into play. A bright white canvas will not be considered antique, as these will usually have been produced post 1950s. Canvas’ that are antique will be darker, the type of nails used to stretch the canvas will also indicate the oil paintings age, for example if staples have been used it is not an antique. A dark wood frame is also an indication of age, the darker the wood the more likely it is older.

Antique oil paintings will normally have blemishes and there may be a few cracks in the paint. Oil paintings painted before the 1800’s may have also suffered warping. Considerations to look out for when it comes to antique oil paintings are tears in the canvas, scratches on the frame and painting, as well as paint flaking, all of which are indications the painting may need restoration.

Antique Watercolours

Antique watercolours are a popular collectors choice, historically the use of watercolour began in China and Africa before gaining in popularity through Europe. Antique watercolours are often very vibrant colourful paintings; watercolours have been used to paint on a variety of materials, including paper, leather, canvas, papyrus and wood.

Styles of Art

There are many styles of antique art, the most popular style being  ‘realism’; portraits and landscapes were particularly favoured in this style. Impressionist art is also very desirable in terms of antique art, this style gained popularity in what would be considered the latter part of the antique art era. Impressionism is characterized by shorter brush strokes, different lights with colours and lines appearing more blurred, impressionist art is less detailed than that of realism.

Miniature antique art although small in size is still valuable, usually miniature art was produced using watercolours. Antique abstract art is another option, this art often uses expansive blocks of colour to create and evoke emotions.