Artists began to use oil in painting as far back as the XV century. The invention of oil painting is ascribed to the painter Yan van Ake. It's well known that oil for the paint compound was used by antique painters. Encaustic paints that were used in the antiquity included wax as well as flax oil. Study of the written sources such as treatises, notes and manuscripts let him arrive at a conclusion that oil paints were used as early as in the XIII century.

   Being told by Vazary one hundred years ago after the celebrated Netherlander's death the legend about the invention of oil painting by Yan van Ake, reiterated by van Mander and corroborated by Merimee, the secretary of the Royal fine art school in the France, has retained in the 19 century but only as the legend that wanders from one art's book to another.

   At present time oil is the most current medium in painting. Owning to a number of advantages oil paints became widely spread comparing with other paints. After drying they don't darken or fade, but preserve glow and richness in the case of using body-color dabs as well as in the case of using glaze. Oil dries slowly which make possible to amend a picture in a process of painting if it is necessary and also to achieve smooth passages of colors and hues.

   An oil portrait does not become pale in the course of time. It preserves brightness and richness of the colors gladdening You and Your close surrounding for a long time.