18th and 19th century French paintings have many interesting technological characteristics. Lighter coloured drying oils, such as nut and poppy-seed oil, were preferred instead of linseed oil, which yellows more easily. Quick drying painting media were added on the palette directly before application with a brush, since nut or poppy seed oil dry either too slowly or do not dry at all in combination with certain pigments. These binding media mixtures were consciously selected and carefully used with one another by Lancret and Pater. The binding media mixtures used by Watteau, in comparison, contain very high quantities of painting media. Thus, he could obtain fabulous effects like gloss and transparency temporarily. However, the boiled oils on the painting react and age with time, which explains the problematic conditions of many of his paintings today. The project is supported and funded by the Getty Foundation.
