Skip to Main Content
  Navigation Menu
      Admission is always free

          Open today:10:00  to 5:00
          Directions
           Play Artle
        Visit
      Visit
          
            Getting Here
          
            Accessibility
          
            Tours, Guides & Maps
          
            Food & Drink
          
            Gallery Shops
          
            Visitor Policies
  
  Collection
      Collection
          
            Highlights
          
            Search the Collection
          
            Artists Search
          
            Acquisition Highlights
          
            Stories
  
  Exhibitions
      Exhibitions
          
            Current
          
            Special Installations
          
            Upcoming
          
            On Tour
          
            Past
  
  Calendar
      Calendar
          
            Films
          
            Performances
          
            Talks
          
            Guided Tours
          
            After Hours
          
            Fun for Kids
          
            Festivals
          
            Workshops
  
  Learn
      Learn
          
            Teachers
          
            Families
          
            Teens
          
            Adults
          
            Learning Resources
          
            Music Programs
          
            Film Programs
  
  Conservation
      Conservation
          
            Projects
          
            Publications
          
            Resources
  
  Research
      Research
          
            The Center
          
            Publications
          
            Make an Appointment
          
            Archives
          
            Library
          
            NGA Online Editions
  
  Support
      Support
          
            Donate Now
          
            National Membership
          
            Circle Membership
          
            Leadership Groups
          
            Planned Giving
          
            Major Giving
          
            Gifts of Art
  
  Shop
      Shop
          
            Books
          
            Jewelry
          
            Apparel & Accessories
          
            Kids
          
            NGA Custom Prints
  
  Play Artle
            Previous Menu
              


  Search
  Hide Menu
  
  Home>Research>Online Editions>Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century>Technical Glossary
      

      
      Search NGA Online Editions
  Glossary of Technical Terms
 Selected technical terms that appear throughout NGA Online Editions.
 abrasion
A gradual loss of material on the surface. It can be caused by rubbing, wearing, or scraping against itself or another material. It may be a deteriorative process that occurs over time as a result of weathering or handling or it may be due to a deliberate attempt to smooth the material.beveling
Angling along the edge of a panel or a stretcher bar.blistering
The bubbling or bulging of the paint surface. Blisters are caused by excessive heat, insufficient adhesion to the layers beneath, or trapped pockets of air, liquid, or solids.cradling
Attaching a woodent grid to the reverse of a panel to prevent the panel's warping.craquelure
The network of cracks in the paint and ground. Also sometimes referred to crackle pattern.cusping
Distortions near the edges of the canvas caused by tension from the nails or tacks that hold it to the stretcher or strainer. Also sometimes referred to as scalloping.cupping
Distortion of the paint surface resulting in raised areas along the cracks.dendrochronology
A method of dating wood by examining the annual growth rings.flaking
Loss of pieces paint and/or ground.glazing
Applying transparent layers of paint that influence the colors or tonalities of the layers below.ground
The layer or layers used to prepare the support to hold the paint.imprimatura
A colored priming layer used to establish the tonality of the painting.Infrared Reflectography
A photographic or digital image analysis method which captures the absorption/emission characteristics of reflected infrared radiation.  The absorption of infrared wavelengths varies for different pigments, so the resultant image can help distinguish the pigments that have been used in the painting or underdrawing.inpainting
Application of restoration paint to areas of lost original paint to visually integrate an area of loss with the color and pattern of the original, without covering any original paint.lining
A second piece of fabric attached to the back of a painting's original support fabric for physical reinforcement.overpaint
A layer of paint that covers original paint.palette knife
A long, thin, flexible spatula used for mixing paint, for transferring paint to the palette, and occasionally used to apply paint to the canvas.pen painting
A method of painting in which one draws in black ink on top of a substrate prepared with an oil ground.pentimenti
An alteration made by the artist to an area that was already painted.planing
The smoothing or finishing of a wood surface.retouching
Application of restoration paint to areas of loss in order to visually integrate them with the color and pattern of the orginal. Retouching can refer to inpainting or overpainting.repainting
Paint applied after a work is finished.scumbling
Applying opaque or semi-opaque, dry paint so that it partially covers and modifies the color below.scraping
An decorative technique that requires the artist's deliberate removal of paint.sketching
Drawing quickly to record a composition or the most significant features  of a subject.splintering
The splitting or breaking of a wooden panel into sharp, slender pieces.support, canvas
The fabric on which a painting is executed.support, transfer
The removal and reattachment of the paint and sometimes the ground layer to a new support.support, panel
The wooden panel on which a painting is executed.tacking margins
The border of a canvas that is wrapped around the stretcher or strainer and tacked or stapled to the wood.tearing
The deterioration or ripping of canvas.underdrawing
A drawing executed on a ground before paint is applied.underpainting
An initial layer of paint applied to a ground that begins to define shapes and values.warping
Distortion in wood caused by instability.workshop
The apprentices and employees who work within an artist's studio.wrinkling
Small furrows and ridges in paint or fabric due to shrinkage, folding, or compression.X-radiography
A photographic or digital image analysis method that visually records an object's ability to absorb or transmit  X-rays. The differential absorption pattern is useful for examining an object's internal structure as well as for comparing the variation in pigment types.Ultraviolet light (examination)
Using the part of the light spectrum to study the fluorescence of varnishes and repaint.
 Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century








Stay connected Learn more about our exhibitions, news, programs, and special offers.
 Email Address for National Gallery newsletter subscription


About About the National Gallery
    
        Stories
    
        Press
    
        FAQs
    
        Contact Us
 Plan a Visit Getting Here
    
        Accessibility
    
        Today's Tours
    
        Food & Drink
    
        Calendar
    
        Downloadable Map
 Get Involved Donate
    
        Membership
    
        Volunteer
    
        Opportunities
    
        Shop Online
 Resources Search the Collection
    
        Conservation
    
        Library
    
        Archives
    
        The Center
    
        Film Programs
    
        Music Programs
    
        Audio/Video
    
        Open Access Images


Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily West Building6th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter or exit from Constitution Avenue, 4th Street, or 7th Street. The Madison Drive entrance is currently closed. East Building4th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter and exit from 4th Street. Sculpture Garden7th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter and exit from 7th Street, Constitution Avenue, or Madison Drive. We are closed on December 25 and January 1.
 The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.


Twitter
          Facebook
          Instagram
		      Pinterest
          YouTube
 © 2024 National Gallery of Art   Notices   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy