Palette

A thin board or tablet, usually oval or oblong, for laying out and mixing paint. Traditionally wooden and with a hole for the thumb, they can come in almost any shape or size and be made from any type of non-absorbent material such as ceramic, glass or marble. The term is also used to refer to the range of colours used by an artist in a painting.

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Mary Beale, by Mary Beale, circa 1665 - NPG 1687 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

Mary Beale
by Mary Beale
circa 1665
NPG 1687

Edward Collier, by Edward Collier, 1683 - NPG 6069 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

Edward Collier
by Edward Collier
1683
NPG 6069

Michael Dahl, by Michael Dahl, 1691 - NPG 3822 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

Michael Dahl
by Michael Dahl
1691
NPG 3822

Sir Joshua Reynolds, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, circa 1747-1749 - NPG 41 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

Sir Joshua Reynolds
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
circa 1747-1749
NPG 41

Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg, by Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg, 1805-1810 - NPG 2493 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg
by Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg
1805-1810
NPG 2493

George Arnald, by George Arnald, 1831 - NPG 5254 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

George Arnald
by George Arnald
1831
NPG 5254

Emilia Francis (née Strong), Lady Dilke, by Pauline, Lady Trevelyan (née Jermyn), and Laura Capel Lofft (afterwards Lady Trevelyan), circa 1864 - NPG 1828a - © National Portrait Gallery, London

Emilia Francis (née Strong), Lady Dilke
by Pauline, Lady Trevelyan (née Jermyn), and Laura Capel Lofft (afterwards Lady Trevelyan)
circa 1864
NPG 1828a

Ernest Procter; Dod Procter (née Shaw), by Felix H. Man (Hans Baumann), 1934 - NPG P866 - © estate of Felix H. Man / National Portrait Gallery, London

Ernest Procter; Dod Procter (née Shaw)
by Felix H. Man (Hans Baumann)
1934
NPG P866

Sir Matthew Smith, by Lola Walker (Lola Marsden), 6 April 1951 - NPG x125622 - © Lola Marsden / National Portrait Gallery, London

Sir Matthew Smith
by Lola Walker (Lola Marsden)
6 April 1951
NPG x125622

Duncan Grant, by Jane Bown, 1978 - NPG x28622 - © Jane Bown

Duncan Grant
by Jane Bown
1978
NPG x28622

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