Picture varnish

Description

A final transparent, protective coating for a painting. Picture varnishes are typically composed of either a natural resin (Dammar, Mastic) or a synthetic resin (Methyl methacrylate, Cyclohexanone). They have either a matte, satiny or glossy finish.

Synonyms and Related Terms

vernis pour tableaux (Fr.)

Physical and Chemical Properties

Usually soluble in mineral spirits or other mild solvent.

Resources and Citations

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000