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WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS:
HISTORIC EUROPEAN PAINTING TECHNIQUES

INSTRUCTOR: Phoebe Dent Weil
phoebe@northernlightstudio.com

SYLLABUS Part II

Part I , III , VI

ALCHEMY AND MIRRORS: JAN VAN EYCK AND THE EARLY USE OF LINSEED OIL IN THE NORTH

9/23: II.1

Lecture: Jan van Eyck and Early Netherlandish painting techniques
Practicum: We will be using pre-gessoed panels. Selection of painting or area of painting for a reconstruction that will reveal each layer of the paint structure—Begin underdrawing
Assignment: Complete underdrawing.; read Harvard University Art Museums Bulletin, Fall 1996 [on reserve] ; Harley, on inorganic pigments.

9/25: II.2

Lecture: Pigments in Netherlandish painting, Part I: the inorganic pigments
Practicum: Pigment preparation. Laying in the underpainting
Assignment: Work on completing the underpainting; read, Albus,pp 3-131

9/30: II.3

Lecture: Pigments and mediums, Part II: the organic pigments
Practicum: Making lake pigments. Begin glazing and upper layers.
Assignment: Work on glazing; read Albus: pp.271-368

10/2: II.4

Lecture: Van Eyck’s medium: the introduction of linseed oil
Practicum: Work on painting
Assignment: Work on painting; read: Gettens & Stout, passim, esp. on mediums

10/7: II.5

Lecture: Specific examples in Netherlandish technique: Van Eyck’s Mystic Lamb, Annunciation, and Arnolfini Wedding
Practicum: Work on painting
Assignment: Prepare reports for presentation on 10/9

10/9: II.6

Lecture: Review and summary
Practicum: Each student to present his/her work with a written summary of materials and technique used
Assignment: Read Watrous, Chapter I.

Syllabus Part I
Syllabus Part III
Syllabus Part IV