It has been used since antiquity, and examples from the first century AD still exist today.ĭuring the Era of Enlightenment, five genres of paintings were advocated by art academies, including the French Academy and the Royal Academy in London. Tempera paint was the preferred medium of choice in Renaissance Italy.

Oil paint is a more flexible medium, and allows for a greater range of optical effects this in turn led to new expressive techniques for artists. It seems humans have been drawn to artistic expression for millennia. Some of the oldest known paintings can be found at the Chauvet Cave in France, which are estimated to be about 32,000 years old.ĭuring the late Renaissance, oil painting techniques were developed in the Netherlands, which quickly spread across Europe. Others specialize in a particular style, be it fine art, street art, or expressionist paintings.Īs the world’s largest online art gallery, Saatchi Art is thrilled to help people everywhere discover, fall in love with, and own one-of-a-kind paintings by some of the most talented emerging artists from around the world.įor a bit more help finding the perfect artwork from our selection of original paintings for sale, we also invite you to take advantage of our expert Art Advisory service. As Vincent Van Gogh once said, “Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter’s soul.” Some collectors focus on media, such as oil paintings on canvas, or watercolors. Paintings both reflect the artist’s point-of-view and possess an independent voice which speaks a unique message to each beholder. Whether you are looking for an original abstract painting, a modern art painting, or a limited edition watercolor print signed by the artist, Saatchi Art has over 370,000 original paintings and prints for sale.

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