2-999-817 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Study of an Archer, c1750. This unfinished work provides a glimpse into the process of making a painting. Artists began by covering the paper with a thin layer of white paint, which created an even surface suitable for detailed work. They then made a preliminary drawing using ink and a fine brush; this is clearly visible where the quiver was meant to be executed. Pigments were obtained from minerals, metals, plant materials, or even insects; artists made them into paints by mixing them with water and gum Arabic - a binding medium derived from the sap of the acacia tree. At various stages, the painting was turned face down on a smooth surface and rubbed with a hard tool to achieve a glossy finish.