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History of Paint Timeline

(c. 40,000 BCE–Present)

The history of paint traces how humans developed pigments, binders, and techniques to decorate surfaces, preserve ideas, and express artistic and cultural change. Less

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Origins and traditional techniques

Oil used to detail tempera paintings

1200 - 1299

In the 13th century, artists used oil to add details to tempera paintings, representing an early combination of oil-based and water-based painting methods.

Cennino Cennini describes oil-layered tempera

1300 - 1399

In the 14th century, Cennino Cennini described a technique in which tempera painting was covered with light layers of oil.

Oil layers added over tempera

1300 - 1399

The technique described by Cennino Cennini used thin oil layers over tempera, illustrating the gradual development of mixed painting practices.

Image source: Oil painting

Oil layers added over tempera

Ham House oil painting survives

1600 - 1699

Ham House in Surrey, England, remains an example of 17th-century house oil painting. Its decoration used a primer, several undercoats, and an elaborate decorative overcoat.

Traditional pigment paste grinding

1600 - 1699

In the 17th century, pigment and oil mixtures for house painting were ground into paste with a mortar and pestle before application.

Milk paints become common

1800 - 1899

Milk paints, also called casein paints, became common in the 19th century. Their medium was derived from the natural emulsion in milk, and they remain in use.

Ochre mixture found at Blombos Cave

2003

South African archaeologists reported finds at Blombos Cave indicating that humans had made a 100,000-year-old ochre-based mixture that could have been used like paint.

Image source: Blombos Cave

Ochre mixture found at Blombos Cave

Further Blombos Cave discoveries

2004

Additional reporting in 2004 continued to document the discovery of ancient ochre-based material at Blombos Cave, providing evidence for early pigment processing and paint-like substances.

Early ochre grinding and pigment preparation

2011

The toolkit reported from Blombos Cave included equipment for grinding pigments, showing that early people had organized methods for preparing ochre-based coloring materials.

Blombos pigment toolkit reported

2011

Further excavation at Blombos Cave led to a 2011 report describing a complete toolkit for grinding pigments and producing a primitive paint-like substance.

Industrialization and modern paint

Steam-powered paint mills emerge

1700 - 1799

By the proper onset of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-18th century, paint was being ground in steam-powered mills, increasing the scale and efficiency of production.

Image source: Industrial Revolution

Steam-powered paint mills emerge

Zinc oxide becomes a lead alternative

1700 - 1799

During the mid-18th century, a white derivative of zinc oxide provided an alternative to lead-based pigments in paint.

Image source: Zinc oxide

Zinc oxide becomes a lead alternative

Marshall Smith invents color-grinding machine

1718

In England in 1718, Marshall Smith invented a “Machine or Engine for the Grinding of Colors,” mechanizing part of the preparation of paint pigments.

Interior house painting expands

1800 - 1899

Interior house painting increasingly became the norm as the 19th century progressed, both for decoration and because paint helped prevent walls from rotting due to damp.

Ready-to-use paint is introduced

1866

In 1866, Sherwin-Williams invented a paint that could be used directly from the tin without additional preparation.

Sherwin-Williams opens as a paint-maker

1866

Sherwin-Williams opened in the United States in 1866 and became a large paint-maker.

Pigments remain central to paint

1900 - 1999

Throughout the 20th century, paints generally used pigments suspended in a liquid medium.

Acrylic and latex paints enter the market

1900 - 1999

During the 20th century, new water-borne paints entered the market, including acrylic paints developed alongside other latex paints.

Image source: Acrylic paint

Acrylic and latex paints enter the market

Foundry refractory coatings introduced

2005

In 2005, foundry refractory coatings based on a similar principle were introduced for use in foundries.

Paint performance and safety

Titanium white replaces lead pigments

1900 - 1999

Paint manufacturers began replacing white lead pigments with titanium white, or titanium dioxide, as concerns about lead toxicity increased.

Image source: Titanium dioxide

Titanium white replaces lead pigments

Paint blistering assessment is standardized

1900 - 1999

The degree of paint blistering can be assessed using ISO 4628 Part 2 or ASTM Method D714, the standard test method for evaluating blistering.

Paint chalking assessment is standardized

1900 - 1999

The degree of paint chalking can be assessed under ISO 4628 Part 6 or 7 or ASTM Method D4214, which evaluates chalking of exterior paint films.

Paint cracking assessment is standardized

1900 - 1999

The degree of paint cracking can be assessed using ISO 4628 Part 4 or ASTM Method D661, the standard test method for evaluating cracking of exterior paints.

Residential lead paint is banned in the United States

1978

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission banned lead in paint for residential use in 1978, following the transition toward titanium dioxide and other alternatives.

Image source: Lead paint

Residential lead paint is banned in the United States

PCB detected in air samples

2009

A polychlorinated biphenyl was reported in 2009 in air samples collected in Chicago, Philadelphia, the Arctic, and several sites around the Great Lakes.

Environmental impact and innovation

Structural-color paints are created

2000 - 2099

In the 21st century, paints using structural color were created, producing color through physical structures rather than relying solely on conventional pigments.

Image source: Structural coloration

Structural-color paints are created

Plastic-based paint dominates global production

2019

In 2019, 44.4 million tons of paint were produced globally, and 95 percent of that paint was plastic-based.

Paint is linked to ocean microplastics

2022

A 2022 study by Environmental Action revealed that approximately 58 percent of microplastics found in oceans and waterways could be traced back to paint.

Image source: Microplastics

Paint is linked to ocean microplastics

Plastic paint pricing is documented

2023

As of 2023, a gallon of plastic-based paint could cost around $20 to $30, illustrating the established market position of plastic-based products.

Specialized paint costs more

2023

As of 2023, specialized paints such as graphene and lime paints ranged from $34 to $114 per gallon, highlighting the financial challenges of transitioning away from plastic-based paints.

Key Facts

  1. The earliest known paints were made from natural pigments such as ochre, charcoal, manganese, and minerals, often mixed with water, animal fat, or plant fluids.
  2. Prehistoric cave paintings, including those at Lascaux and Altamira, demonstrate sophisticated use of color and composition more than 15,000 years ago.
  3. Ancient Egyptians developed durable paints from mineral pigments and used them on tombs, sculptures, buildings, and decorated objects.
  4. During the Renaissance, artists refined oil painting by mixing pigments with drying oils, allowing greater detail, blending, and luminous effects.
  5. The Industrial Revolution introduced mass-produced synthetic pigments and ready-made paints, while modern research increasingly emphasizes low-toxicity and sustainable formulas.

Source

This History of Paint timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

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