Activity Ten: Mediums and Techniques

"Cattelaya Orchid and Three Brazilian Hummingbirds" Martin Johnson Heade, 1871, oil on wood

Martin Johnson Heade's "Cattelaya Orchid and Three Brazilian Hummingbirds", 1871, oil wood, is an oil painting . It was painted with nonaqueous paint, paint that is diluted with terpertine or minereal spirits not water, and applied to a wood base, area which the artist painted on(168.) The artist may have used a ground or primer, a preliminary coating that is applied to the wood(168), in order to prevent the wood from cracking which was common (173.) Since oil paint takes a long time to dry, Heade was able to blend the colors in the background together without worrying about the painting seperated or cracking (173.) This would also allow Heade to accent the details in the flower and hummingbirds because he would have been able to work on them until he had them just right (173.) The artist may have also used a technique called glazing, applying thin layers on top of thick layers of paint, in order to give the painting it's smooth, glossy appearance (175.) Becuase Heade used oil on wood, the viewer is able to see a long lasting beautiful layered painting.

"Hunting in the Pontine Marshes" Horace Vernet, 1833, oil canvas

Horace Vernet's "Hunting in the Pontine Marshes", 1833, oil canvas, is much like Heade's in respect with mediums and techniques. Vernet's painiting used nonaqueous paint, paint that is diluted with substances other than water such as terpetine or minereal spirits (168), like Heade. However, Vernet used a canvas base instead of wood. Since the canvas was streched over a wood frame, it was less unlikely to break or crack (173.) This gives Vernet a lot more time to paint and less time for him to worry about the surface cracking (173.) Just as Heade would have used, Vernet probably used a ground or primer, preliminary layer, to start his painting which would have also been an oil based paint usually white (173.) Vernet also had the advantage of taking his time perfecting his painting, layering the details on and blending the background of the forest together until it was perfect just as Heade did by using oil paints (173.) Like Heade's painting, it appears that Vernet may have also used the technique of glazing, applying thin layers of paint, in order to give his painting a smooth, glossy, glowing color appearance(175.) Vernet constructed a beautiful, vibrant, eye catching painting using a canvas medium and a glazing technique.