Vandyke brown takes its name from the Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641), who used it extensively in his aristocratic portraits. The earthy, transparent brown was widely used in 17th century Flemish and Dutch painting. Its bitumen content, which initially contributes to its warm transparency, causes severe long-term deterioration — many paintings using it have developed pronounced cracking patterns.

Warm, deep, and aristocratic. Vandyke brown is the colour of Flemish painting's shadowy depths — it suggests dark wood-panelled rooms, heavy velvet, and the particular gravity of 17th century portraiture. Its name alone carries art historical weight.

The cracking and darkening of paintings containing bituminous browns (including Vandyke brown) is one of the major challenges in art conservation. Works by Reynolds, Constable, and many 18th–19th century British painters who used bituminous pigments now show severe deterioration. Conservation efforts to stabilise these paintings represent some of the most technically challenging work in the field.