Sennelier
Oil Pastels
Why Oil Pastel Artwork is so Exceptional
Paintings made using the highest quality oil sticks and pastels, the very best and unrivalled brand being Sennelier, will remain as fresh for several 1000s of years.
Some of the oldest artworks made using only pure colour pigments are the cave paintings discovered in Lascauax, France.
These have remained well preserved for an estimated 20, 000 years. (See below ref no. 2 - Pastel - The Original Medium)
Similarly, Sennelier Pastels contain the highest load of the purest most vibrant colour pigments.
There are absolutely no artificial fillers added at all.
And because there are no carriers (additional ingredients) that can oxidise and age an artwork Sennelier oil pastels have an exceptional lightfast rating.
They have a high degree of light stability. Being lightfast simply means that they resist fading. (See ref no.3 - Sennelier Oil Pastel. And also: ref no.4 - Sennelier since 1887).
And because these Pastels are nothing but pure pigments, they are lipstick soft and quite literally as colourful as wild flowers are.
Sennelier are without doubt the Royals Royce and Ferrari of the finest quality art materials.
The incredible luminosity and beauty with a Sennelier oil pastel painting will remain vibrant and colourful for many generations to come.
Pastel Artworks Well Known Longevity
An oil pastel artwork will stand the test of time simply because it does not ever fully dry, and will not crack with time as many of the older traditional paintings are known to have done.
Since it remains somewhat "wet," this is why pastel artwork is always protected and well preserved within an acid-free mount under a glass frame.
And since there are no artificial carriers with pastels pigments, that cause oxidisation and aging, they resist fading and will remain stunningly colourful. As vibrant as the day they were made. For several centuries even. Please see (Christie's)
Currently in galleries and museums around the world there exists oil pastel artworks that are hundreds of years old. Like that of a piece made in 1888, entitled: 'Study of flesh colour and gold' by William Merrett Chase. (National Gallery of Art).
The oil pastel was favoured by many famously renowned artists, such as legendary painter: Edgar Degas. He loved working with pastel due to its richness of colour (Christies). He created in excess of 700 oil pastel works (Artizon Museum).
One of the most popular pieces by artist legendary artist Pablo Picasso was his oil pastel work, entitled: 'Head of a Woman.' (art-Picasso.com)
Finally, here are some great articles and a recommended read written about some of the worlds greatest artists that loved to work with the pastel:
The History of Pastels
https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/learning/resources/history-pastels
Renowned Artists that worked with Pastel
https://indianartideas.in/blog/oil-paintings/8-renowned-artists-who-had-penchant-for-oil-pastel
References:
1. Sennelier Oil Pastel (2022)
http://www.sennelier-colors.com/en/Pastels-huile_88.html
Sennelier since 1887. (2022)
http://www.sennelier-colors.com/en/History_54.html
2. Pastel - The Original Medium
https://www.pastelartists.ca/history-of-pastels/
2. Chrisitie's 'Luminous and beautiful beyond all of other pictures' -- the rise of pastel in the 18th century'. (2019)
https://www.christies.com/features/the-rise-of-pastel-in-the-18th-century-9962-1.aspx
Please also see: The Met Museum - 'Eighteenth Century Art.' (2013)
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/pastels
4. National Gallery of Art - The Touch of Colour: Pastels at The National Gallery of Art (2019)
https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2019/touch-of-color-pastels.html
5. Christies - Degas' pastels matched even his most dazzling oil paintings for richness of colour. (2021)
https://www.christies.com/features/two-degas-pastels-are-offered-at-christies-london-11734-1.aspx
6. Artizon Museum - Edgar Degas 700 Pastel Collection. (2022)
https://www.artizon.museum/en/collection/art/22485
7. art-Picasso.com 1920s - Pablo Picasso Collection 1881 - 1973 (2022)
http://art-picasso.com/1920_17.html
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