copper for the craftsman

“Gold is for the mistress—silver for the maid—Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade."
—Kipling

The phrase “copper for the craftsman” is a telling one. Copper is a versatile material, and that versatility has led to its use by many tradespeople and craftspeople throughout human history. It surrounds us in many applications in life today, just as it has for centuries. It is so pervasive that we almost don’t notice it: it’s in our homes in the form of wiring and plumbing; it’s in our pockets or purses in the form of currency; and it’s in anything that is brass or bronze, since it is an alloy of those metals. Chefs and bakers use copper cookware and baking pans. If you’re familiar with Ottawa, then you’ll also be familiar with the copper roof of Canada’s Parliament buildings as well as the copper roof of the neighbouring Chateau Laurier. But did you know that copper also has centuries-old—and ongoing—role in oil painting?

copper as canvas

Copper plates have been used as a surface for oil paintings for hundreds of years, particularly in Holland. There are several reasons why artists chose to paint on copper. It doesn’t warp, the way that wooden panels can, and it is not sensitive to humidity. Insects don’t eat it. It doesn’t tear or stretch the way that canvas can, and so no re-tensioning is needed. It’s durable, and has a smooth surface that allows for a range of painting techniques.

Here is a portrait study that I painted on a copper plate. I was interested in trying the technique because it fascinates me to follow in the footsteps of artists who have gone before, and try to learn what they knew. Also, it’s just a lot of fun to paint on different surfaces and feel how differently the paint handles on each.

In addition to its durability, copper plate was also a practical choice for artists who were trained as engravers; these artists were familiar with copper from their etching work, and probably had extra etching plates around the studio. Etching plates could be re-used as a surface for an oil painting after the printing was complete. Ross Merrill, a conservationist at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, has said that more than half of all paintings he has seen on copper have been shown by x-ray to have an etching underneath. One of Rembrandt’s etchings, Abraham Entertaining the Angels, was actually used by another artist to paint a landscape. Thankfully, the other artist flipped the plate over and used the back side for his landscape!

Leonardo da Vinci, Jan Brueghel, El Greco, and Rembrandt are among the artists known to have created paintings on copper. Here is one of Rembrandt’s self-portraits, painted on a copper plate:

copper in pigments

Copper is also used in pigments. Copper ores create beautiful blues and greens, and these pigments have been used throughout history to make stained glass as well as paints.

Copper-based pigments are on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and they are still on artists’ palettes today.