''The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques'' is a reference book by Ralph Mayer (1895–1979). Intended by the author for use by professional artists, it deals mostly with the chemical and physical properties of traditional painterly materials such as oil,

tempera Tempera (), also known as egg tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting of pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder medium, usually glutinous material such as egg yolk. ''Tempera'' also refers to the paintings done in ...

, and encaustic, as well as

solvents A solvent (from the Latin '' solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas, or a supercritical fluid. Water is a solvent for p ...

, varnishes, and painting mediums. It also has extensive coverage of ancillary activities such as stretching and preparing

canvas Canvas is an extremely durable Plain weave, plain-woven Cloth, fabric used for making sails, tents, Tent#Marquees and larger tents, marquees, backpacks, Shelter (building), shelters, as a Support (art), support for oil painting and for other ite ...

, care and maintenance of tools, and conservation of older paintings. Originally published in 1940, the ''Handbook'' was referred to as "the painter's bible" at the time, and still remains on the reading list in American universities. It underwent three extensive revisions during Mayer's lifetime, and the fifth posthumous edition is still in print. Ralph Mayer's archives of writing and research on materials and techniques are now at the Ralph Mayer Learning Center, Yale University School of Art.Yale University Bulletin, School of Art 2011-2012
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References

Encyclopedias of art Books about the visual arts 1940 non-fiction books {{art-book-stub