As a painting medium, the addition of oil in combination with pigments dates back to the 1400's. Before its invention, painting in universal practice dates back to the Stone Age, but paint was made by using binders other than the modern way of oil mixed with pigment, such as egg in tempera paints or plaster in frescoes.

In the early 15th century in Europe, there came about a certain capture for reality in art. Art was transitioning from ornamental and legendary during a Middle Age to a time of rebirth with the beginning of the resurgence. Artists were finally opening up to understand the arithmetical laws behind perspective and there began an interest to depict more sincere, moving works of art that were visually more sensible. Artists began to use environment as a source of inspiration for their paintings.

Jan Van Eyck (1395-1441) was an artist of the Northern Renaissance who sought after to mimic nature in his paintings. In order to do so, Van Eyck became intent on painting every smallest possible detail of his subjects in order to make them seem lively. In due course, Van Eyck realized that in order to carry out his intentions of painting such minute detail to his fullest satisfaction he required to improve the technique of painting. He became the inventor of oil painting.

Hence the beginning of oil painting, as we know it today. Although oil colors are much more convenient now a days, sold in tube form, & we have many more combination mediums to choose from than Van Eyck did, we still appreciate the same qualities of oil painting that Van Eyck invented it for.