Discover a world where science, economics, social customs, politics, and everyday life come together. Products marketed to artists are a reflection of the stylistic periods in art history. Explore the fascinating relationship between the products sold to artists and how they used them.
In 1994, the conservation division established the art materials collection and study center as a permanent home for artists' materials, technical information, and trade literature. The collection houses art materials from domestic and international manufacturers, and specially prepared paint samples for future analysis. A small number of gifts have also come from the studios of contemporary artists.
The art materials collection contains more than 18,000 of samples, including a variety of paints, varnishes, and drawing materials. Most of the collection is composed of products manufactured from 1970 to the present, although the collection has several items from the 19th and early 20th centuries. A quest continues to seek samples of art materials that expand the scope and depth of the collection.
