oil painting

noun

1. the art or technique of painting with oil colors.

2. a painting executed in oil colors.

oil painting

noun

1. a picture painted with oil paints

2. the art or process of painting with oil paints

3. informal,  he is not good-looking

Other Word Forms

• oil painter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oil painting¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

Three previously unknown oil paintings attributed to avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich are on show at a public museum in Bucharest.

From BBC

It is the earliest-known oil painting ever exhibited by the artist, and is believed to be the only one depicting a Bristol scene.

From BBC

When an artsy client asked for a “cool, edgy, funky” feel for his Beverly Hills bathroom, Andrews chose dark, somber oil paintings.

From Los Angeles Times

A campaign to buy and exhibit JMW Turner's earliest known oil painting in a museum has raised more than £100,000 in five days.

From BBC

A 18th-century oil painting has allegedly been damaged after a museum visitor tripped while taking a selfie.

From BBC

Related Words

• art 
• canvas 
• composition 
• depiction 
• landscape 
• mural 
• picture 
• portrait 
• sketch