oil painting

noun

1
a
: the act or art of painting in oil colors
b
: a picture painted in oils
2
: painting that uses pigments originally ground in oil

Examples of oil painting in a Sentence

He studied oil painting in college. A large oil painting hangs above the mantel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 8’ x 10‘ oil painting was made in Ohio by Archibald McNeal Willard (1836-1918) for our country’s 100th year anniversary. Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 2 July 2025 For an affordable approach, buy 4-by-4-inch oil paintings from Etsy and keep either the frames or the art consistent, says Storms. Dina Cheney, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025 This limits the method’s suitability to paintings that already have a varnish layer, encompassing most oil paintings made before the 20th century. IEEE Spectrum, 12 June 2025 Earlier this year, a Colorado artist faced Trump's ire and outrage over an oil painting commissioned by the state's Republican legislature. Alana Wise, NPR, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for oil painting

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of oil painting was in 1699

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Cite this Entry

“Oil painting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oil%20painting. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

oil painting

noun
: a painting done with oil paints

More from Merriam-Webster on oil painting

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