The papers in this volume constitute a substantial body of work that provides a wide-ranging overview of current research on the technology and practice of old master paintings, covering some 700 years of European painting, from the 13th century to the early twentieth century, including works by Guido da Siena, Bellini, Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Gallego, Holbein, Caravaggio, El Greco, Rubens, Murillo, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Whistler, van Gogh and Munch. Six of the contributions focus on technological or historical aspects of specific artists' materials.
These papers were presented at a conference held at the National Gallery to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The National Gallery Technical Bulletin which has a tradition of publishing interdisciplinary research which combines scientific investigation of the materials and techniques of paintings with knowledge of their historical context. Such research is therefore directed towards issues that inform art-historical study as well as questions that bear on the material history of a work.