Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
Does sunlight affect oil paintings?
1 Answer
Yes, sunlight affects oil paintings. Keep your oil paintings away from direct sunlight.
To maintain oil paintings that you purchased for your home, experts suggest that you keep them out of sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sunlight coming in from a window can fade the colors in your painting. Do not hang your oil painting near a heat source or where it can get wet (bathrooms and kitchens are not safe for your oil painting).
You may wish to dust your oil painting so that layers of dust don’t begin to gather on its surface. This should only be considered to remove loose dust. Never spray any chemical substance on your oil painting. Do not use a damp cloth to dust your oil painting. (Again, your painting should not be exposed to moisture.)
To remove loose dust, use a soft brush that measures approximately one to two inches wide with natural-hair bristles. Do not use a dust cloth or a feather duster, as those items may catch or leave threads or feathers behind. Do not apply pressure or dust your painting for an extended period of time.
If you think that your oil painting is considerably dirty or believe that other issues may be at work, experts strongly suggest that you consult with a professional conservator.
Read about how to arrange your wall art and find oil paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
To maintain oil paintings that you purchased for your home, experts suggest that you keep them out of sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sunlight coming in from a window can fade the colors in your painting. Do not hang your oil painting near a heat source or where it can get wet (bathrooms and kitchens are not safe for your oil painting).
You may wish to dust your oil painting so that layers of dust don’t begin to gather on its surface. This should only be considered to remove loose dust. Never spray any chemical substance on your oil painting. Do not use a damp cloth to dust your oil painting. (Again, your painting should not be exposed to moisture.)
To remove loose dust, use a soft brush that measures approximately one to two inches wide with natural-hair bristles. Do not use a dust cloth or a feather duster, as those items may catch or leave threads or feathers behind. Do not apply pressure or dust your painting for an extended period of time.
If you think that your oil painting is considerably dirty or believe that other issues may be at work, experts strongly suggest that you consult with a professional conservator.
Read about how to arrange your wall art and find oil paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2024
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Shop for Oil Paintings on 1stDibs
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Located in London, GB
Follower of El Greco
The Adoration of the Shepherds
Oil on canvas
The present work bares close similarity to a painting of the same name in the collection of the Museo del Prado, Ma...
Category
17th Century Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Mont-Orford, Quebec
Located in Westmount, QC
Albert Rousseau, Canadian, 1908 - 1982
Oil on canvas panel
12 x 16 in
Signed lower right;
signed, titled and dated verso
Framed
Category
2010s Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil
Untitled
Located in PARIS, FR
Sara Shamma is a renowned painter whose works can be found in both public and private collections around the globe. Shamma was born in Damascus, Syria (1975) to a Syrian father and L...
Category
2010s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
Portrait of King Edward VI, Oil on panel with Gold Leaf, 18th Century English
Located in London, GB
Oil on panel
Image size: 25 1/2 x 19 inches (37.5 x 27 inches)
18th Century Auricular gilt frame
Provenance
New York private collection
This portrait of the King Edward VI depicts...
Category
Mid-18th Century English School Portrait Paintings
Materials
Gold Leaf
Untitled
Located in PARIS, FR
Sara Shamma is a renowned painter whose works can be found in both public and private collections around the globe. Shamma was born in Damascus, Syria (1975) to a Syrian father and L...
Category
2010s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil
La Tuque
Located in Westmount, QC
Stanley Cosgrove, 1911-2002, Canadian
La Tuque , 1972
Oil on board
18 x 14 in
45.7 x 35.6 cm
signed lower right; signed, titled;
dated 1972 and inscribed “no. 12” and “Hudson” on ...
Category
1980s Landscape Paintings
Materials
Oil