I hesitate to respond, as this is not my specialty, but here goes.  Canvas
is a type of fabric.  Linen is a fiber.  You can have linen canvas, cotton
canvas, even wool or silk canvas.  Likewise, you can have other types of
fabric made of linen.  So, if you want to be very accurate, you would
describe it as oil on linen canvas.  But, be sure that it is actually linen,
and not cotton or another fiber, before you make that designation.  If you
are unsure of the fiber, oil on canvas is best, rather than a
mis-attribution.  Good luck!

Marc

American Conservation Consortium, Ltd.
     4 Rockville Road
     Broad Brook, CT 06016
     www.conservator.com <http://www.conservator.com/>
     860-386-6058



*Collections Preservation Consultation
*Conservation Assessments & Surveys
*Environmental Monitoring & Low-Tech Control
*Moisture Management Solutions
*Collections in Historic Structures
*Collections Care Grant Preparation
*Conservation Treatment of:
     Furniture
     Painted Wood
     Horse-Drawn Vehicles
     Architectural Interiors



Marc A. Williams, President
     MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum Program
     Former Chief Wooden Object Conservator, Smithsonian Institution
     Fellow, American Institute for Conservation (AIC)



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 1:19 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Paintings Support Designations
>
>
> Dear Colleagues:  We're working on a projet where all the paintings in a
> collection are listed as "oil on canvas".  However, the majority of the
> works are actually oil on linen, heavily impastoed.  Should the
> designation be, then, oil on linen, or is oil on canvas generally used?
> This should be easy for us to answer, but we can't!  Responses
> appreciated.  Best, Geri
>
> Geri Thomas, President
> Thomas & Associates, Inc.
> www.artstaffing.com
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain
> detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one
> line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of
> the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail
> message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message
> should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>
>

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).