Skip to main content
Unpositioned
Edit position
Edit position

No position recorded yet. Picking a shelf here sets the manual override.

What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins
Diagnose this book
Open in Vernon Browser

What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins

by James Elkins

Using alchemy as a conceptual framework, this text examines the sensory and material realities of the painting process. It explores the physical nature of the studio, the properties of substances, and the technical challenges of manipulating pigments and colours.

Accession 25096 ISBN 0415921139 Publisher Routledge
Book Images
Reference and live side by side Hover to see live images
Reference
What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins spine
What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins cover
Live
What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins live spine
No live
What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins spine What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins live spine
What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins cover
No live
TAGS
Curated Derived
Alchemy Art Experience Painting Process Religion
CONNECTIONS
No connections
State
on_shelf
True
position_updated_at
never
orientation
unknown
Details

Physical

binding_type
Hard Back
dimensions
none captured
spine_text
none captured
LOCATION HISTORY
G:W1:14 3 Current vertical
4 days, 19 hours ago
G:W1:14 3 vertical
4 days, 20 hours ago
G:W1:14 3 vertical
5 days, 2 hours ago
G:W1:14 3 vertical
1 week, 3 days ago
Vernon snapshot
View live

Frozen copy of Vernon's record from the last sync. Fields tagged → flow back into the Pulse record.

Last synced 2026-05-21 01:45 (4 days, 11 hours ago)

Identity

name→ title
What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins
vernon_id
35690
accession_no→ accession_number
25096
vernon_slug
what-painting-is-how-to-think-about-oil-painting-using-the-language-of-alchemy-james-elkins

Drives Pulse state

curr_loc_status→ on_shelf
On Shelf
location_name
Zone W1 (Live bays)/Level 1/Phrontisterion/MONA
location_reason
On Shelf
isbn_issn→ isbn (when valid)
0415921139

Descriptive

production_date
1999
object_type
Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication
object_status
Accessioned
brief_description
This brief record was created for storage and loan purposes

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
James Elkins
tags→ tags
Art, Arts, Religions, Painting, Graphic arts, Art -- Philosophy, Occultism, Alchemy, Oil painting
subject_people
—
subject_objects
—

Cover image

vernon_cover_image_id→ cover_image
41805

Raw Vernon JSON

click to inspect

The source payload behind the snapshot above.
Use ⌘F to search once expanded.
{7 keys}
"slug": "what-painting-is-how-to-think-about-oil-painting-using-the-language-of-alchemy-james-elkins"
"opacObjectId": "35690"
"opacCollection": {1 keys}
"opacCollectionId": "1"
"imagesCollection": {2 keys}
"images": [2 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"imageId": "41805"
"cssColors": [4 items]
"[0]": {9 keys}
"hex": "a52a2a"
"hue": 0
"rank": 1
"presence": 28.29
"colorName": "brown"
"lightness": 41
"colorGroup": "brown"
"saturation": 59
"formattedColorName": "brown"
"[1]": {9 keys}
"hex": "d2b48c"
"hue": 34
"rank": 2
"presence": 54.51
"colorName": "tan"
"lightness": 69
"colorGroup": "brown"
"saturation": 44
"formattedColorName": "tan"
"[2]": {9 keys}
"hex": "a0522d"
"hue": 19
"rank": 3
"presence": 3.75
"colorName": "sienna"
"lightness": 40
"colorGroup": "brown"
"saturation": 56
"formattedColorName": "sienna"
"[3]": {9 keys}
"hex": "cd853f"
"hue": 30
"rank": 4
"presence": 4.55
"colorName": "peru"
"lightness": 53
"colorGroup": "brown"
"saturation": 59
"formattedColorName": "peru"
"rawColors": [7 items]
"[0]": {6 keys}
"hex": "4e2f2d"
"hue": 3
"rank": 1
"presence": 28.29
"lightness": 24
"saturation": 26
"[1]": {6 keys}
"hex": "dfc9ae"
"hue": 33
"rank": 2
"presence": 54.51
"lightness": 77
"saturation": 43
"[2]": {6 keys}
"hex": "755544"
"hue": 20
"rank": 3
"presence": 3.75
"lightness": 36
"saturation": 26
"[3]": {6 keys}
"hex": "967261"
"hue": 19
"rank": 4
"presence": 7.56
"lightness": 48
"saturation": 21
"[4]": {6 keys}
"hex": "ab8771"
"hue": 22
"rank": 5
"presence": 4.55
"lightness": 55
"saturation": 25
"[5]": {6 keys}
"hex": "5f5c61"
"hue": 276
"rank": 6
"presence": 0.62
"lightness": 37
"saturation": 2
"[6]": {6 keys}
"hex": "9b8f87"
"hue": 24
"rank": 7
"presence": 0.71
"lightness": 56
"saturation": 9
"imageLabels": [10 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"count": 11760
"score": 85.13
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Poster"
"imageLabelId": 21
"[1]": {5 keys}
"count": 19411
"score": 85.04
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Font"
"imageLabelId": 12
"[2]": {5 keys}
"count": 11006
"score": 74.65
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Art"
"imageLabelId": 4
"[3]": {5 keys}
"count": 15171
"score": 72.49
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Book"
"imageLabelId": 67
"[4]": {5 keys}
"count": 19018
"score": 69.3
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Publication"
"imageLabelId": 23
"[5]": {5 keys}
"count": 12694
"score": 66.12
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Book cover"
"imageLabelId": 90
"[6]": {5 keys}
"count": 5931
"score": 63.26
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Illustration"
"imageLabelId": 25
"[7]": {5 keys}
"count": 3376
"score": 63.15
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Visual arts"
"imageLabelId": 18
"[8]": {5 keys}
"count": 5351
"score": 63.01
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Advertising"
"imageLabelId": 71
"[9]": {5 keys}
"count": 2836
"score": 59.59
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "History"
"imageLabelId": 80
"imageDerivatives": [6 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/large/26889/c8b4af5c7f3d719d9105e63f4f84d9975ee53be9.jpg"
"width": "515"
"height": "800"
"identifier": "LARGE"
"[1]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/medium/26889/c8b4af5c7f3d719d9105e63f4f84d9975ee53be9.jpg"
"width": "258"
"height": "400"
"identifier": "MEDIUM"
"[2]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/nano/26889/c8b4af5c7f3d719d9105e63f4f84d9975ee53be9.jpg"
"width": "23"
"height": "35"
"identifier": "NANO"
"[3]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/small/26889/c8b4af5c7f3d719d9105e63f4f84d9975ee53be9.jpg"
"width": "97"
"height": "150"
"identifier": "SMALL"
"[4]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/tiny/26889/c8b4af5c7f3d719d9105e63f4f84d9975ee53be9.jpg"
"width": "48"
"height": "75"
"identifier": "TINY"
"[5]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/xlarge/26889/c8b4af5c7f3d719d9105e63f4f84d9975ee53be9.jpg"
"width": "773"
"height": "1200"
"identifier": "XLARGE"
"[1]": {4 keys}
"imageId": "41725"
"cssColors": [0 items]
"rawColors": [0 items]
"imageDerivatives": [6 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/large/26890/26a30ee7a9d18f0eb96542124e255a65a0c1c383.jpg"
"width": "552"
"height": "800"
"identifier": "LARGE"
"[1]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/medium/26890/26a30ee7a9d18f0eb96542124e255a65a0c1c383.jpg"
"width": "276"
"height": "400"
"identifier": "MEDIUM"
"[2]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/nano/26890/26a30ee7a9d18f0eb96542124e255a65a0c1c383.jpg"
"width": "24"
"height": "35"
"identifier": "NANO"
"[3]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/small/26890/26a30ee7a9d18f0eb96542124e255a65a0c1c383.jpg"
"width": "104"
"height": "150"
"identifier": "SMALL"
"[4]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/tiny/26890/26a30ee7a9d18f0eb96542124e255a65a0c1c383.jpg"
"width": "52"
"height": "75"
"identifier": "TINY"
"[5]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/xlarge/26890/26a30ee7a9d18f0eb96542124e255a65a0c1c383.jpg"
"width": "828"
"height": "1200"
"identifier": "XLARGE"
"totalImages": 2
"objectSearchScore": 0.3118719
"opacObjectFieldSets": [40 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "accession_no"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "25096"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "title"
"value": "What painting is : how to think about oil painting, using the language of alchemy / James Elkins"
"[2]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "other_name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "artist_last_first"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Elkins, James"
"[4]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "1999"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [2 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "earliest_date"
"value": "1999-01-01Z"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"key": "latest_date"
"value": "1999-12-31Z"
"[5]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[6]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "edition"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[7]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "brief_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "This brief record was created for storage and loan purposes"
"[8]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "measure_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[9]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "credit_line"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[10]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "On Shelf"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "curr_loc_status:"On Shelf""
"[11]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "ob_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Accessioned"
"[12]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "lender"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[13]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_owner"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[14]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[15]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_start"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[16]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_expiry"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[17]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[18]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone W1 (Live bays)/Level 1/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[19]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "object_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "object_type:"Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication""
"[20]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "collection"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Main Collection/Library"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "collection:"Main Collection/Library""
"[21]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "New York City/New York/United States of America"
"[22]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_publisher"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Routledge"
"[23]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "physical_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [2 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "246 pages : illustrations (some colour) ; 21 cm."
"[1]": {1 keys}
"value": "Includes bibliographical references and index."
"[24]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "language"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[25]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "isbn_issn"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "0415921139"
"[26]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_1"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "750.18 ELK"
"[27]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "usual_loc_being"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone W1 (Live bays)/Level 1/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[28]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_class"
"opacObjectFields": [4 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Alchemy/Occultism/Religions"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Alchemy/Occultism/Religions""
"[1]": {2 keys}
"value": "Art -- Philosophy/Arts"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Art -- Philosophy/Arts""
"[2]": {2 keys}
"value": "Oil painting/Graphic arts/Art/Arts"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Oil painting/Graphic arts/Art/Arts""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"value": "Painting/Graphic arts/Art/Arts"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Painting/Graphic arts/Art/Arts""
"[29]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_date"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[30]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[31]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_period"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[32]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[33]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[34]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[35]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[36]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[37]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[38]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[39]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_9"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"relationshipsCollection": {2 keys}
"relationships": [1 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"relatedRecords": [1 items]
"[0]": {3 keys}
"slug": "james-elkins"
"title": "James Elkins"
"relatedRecordId": "10802"
"relationshipId": "object_prod_pri_person"
"relatedRecordType": "person"
"totalRelatedRecords": 1
"totalRelationships": 1