From Pigments to Paint

Mixing pure pigment with linseed oil

Here's another photo from our visit to Rembrandt's house. We watched a demonstration of making oil paints from earth pigments and semi precious stones. The powdered minerals were mixed with a little pure alcohol and then linseed oil. The mixture was then emulsified to a glossy oil paint by grinding on a stone block with a flat circlular stone. Rembrandt had lots of students to do this laborious process for him. They would also go on to mix any individual colours that he required using a basic palate from only a few pure pigments.