The ARTECHNE research database contains fully searchable digitized sources on artisanal techniques, such as recipes, books of secrets, and artist handbooks, from the period 1500-1900, in Latin, Dutch, German, English, French, Italian and Spanish.

The database is rooted in the Colour ConText database, and developed as part of the ARTECHNE research project. What is ‘technique’ in the visual and decorative arts? And how is ‘technique’ transmitted? Those are the central questions of ARTECHNE. This five-year project is supported by the European Research Council, and led by Sven Dupré at Utrecht University and the University of Amsterdam.

Because all sources are geotagged, it is possible to visualize geographical and historical spreading of the sources that come up in any given search in the geographical map and timeline.