Linen

The most popular fabric of canvas for artists, it is made of fiber from the flax plant, and is regarded as superior because of its strength, stability and capacity to retain its texture after the ground has been applied. Most of the linen for artists&#39; canvas is unbleached and comes from Belgium and Ireland. Source: Ralph Mayer, "A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques"<br><br>A cloth woven from thread made from fibers of the flax plant. Although it has been used in many ways, linen has been an especially desireable support for painting. As such it is one of several textiles that may be called canvas.Examples: Egypt, Thebes, Sheet of Royal Linen, c. 1466 BCE, Dynasty 18, reign of Hatshepsut 6-7, linen, greatest width 63 3/8 inches (161 cm), greatest length 16 feet 11 inches (515 cm), weight 2.9 ounces (140 g), 118 warp, 77 weft per square inches (46 warp, 30 weft per square cm), Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY. See Egyptian art.Germany, Altar Cloth: Christ in Judgment and others, second half of the 14th century, embroidery of linen on linen, width 47 1/4 inches (120 cm), length 13 feet (396.2 cm), Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY.Also see textile.