The History of Pastels

Pastels have such a long and interesting history that can amaze anyone! You may be wondering, “What are pastels?” Well, pastels are an art medium that consist of powdered pigment and binder. They date back all the way to the Renaissance era. Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo’s era! The Renaissance is the period that follows the Middle Ages and lasted from the 14th century to the 17th century and was a rediscovery of classical philosophy, art, and literature.

Pastels developed from the natural chalks that Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo used for their pieces. This art medium originates from Northern Italy in the 16th century. It sounds crazy, but the pigment, the base of pastels, was combined with gum Arabic and fish or animal glue to hold them together. Many artists in Northern Italy used pastels, such as Jacopo Bassano and Federico Barocci. Other artists in this era used them to produce portraits. Despite being used in the 16th century, pastels regained popularity in Britain during the 18th century. People of high wealth wanted their images captured in “crayon paintings.” Francis Cotes, a pioneer of pastel painting, is often referred to as the father of English pastels. Around 1820, pastels began declining in use, and only a few professional artists used the medium. Although pastels are very difficult to master, it has been taken up mostly by amateurs. It was not until the 1860s that Edgar Degas was recognized as transforming pastels from a sketching device into a central artistic medium. Great artists, like Oscar-Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, followed in Degas’ steps.

Pastels regained their popularity when they were displayed in the first London exhibition. The show was influenced primarily by French examples, and British art was represented. This show had a big impact on the art world. For example, in 1890, the Society of British Pastellists was founded. Unfortunately, art critics did not have the best opinion and The Times described the displays as an “absolute joke.” It was not long before the Society came to an end. Although the Society ended, a new one was born, called the Pastel Society. It encourages the use of pastels within the contemporary art world. Auguston John and Robert Hilton have been experimenting throughout the 20th century and people continue to use pastels. They have many uses; some include creating strokes in hopes that they will look similar to oil paints and blending the colors together to achieve realism.

Pastels have come a long way since the Renaissance and the 18th century. This art medium is very unique and has many different techniques. The process of using pastels is somewhat similar compared to the past. Due to its style and versatility, many artists still use pastels today.

Photo Credit: Google

Works Cited

• “The History of Pastels.” Mall Galleries, 13 Nov. 2015, https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/learning/resources/history-pastels.

• History.com Editors. “Renaissance.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 4 Apr. 2018, https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/renaissance.

• Jordan, Courtney. “All about Pastel Painting Techniques, Artists & More.” Artists Network, 18 Dec. 2017, https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/pastel/pastel-painting-fundamentals/.

• “Pastel.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/art/pastel-art.

• Home, https://www.thepastelsociety.org.uk/.