Easels are used to hold the work of art in place. Artists often have large-scale easels in their studio that are capable of holding large canvases or panels. Easels are infinitely adjustable, with sliding parts that can be changed for each painting. However, the large studio easels are not convenient for painting outdoors because of their bulky size.

“Lizze, Grandfather & Gr. Mother went down East today. To be gone two weeks. I went down to Mr. Halls to get the box & easel thrown away by E. Longfellow – worked all day fixing up the box.”

~ Artist Willard Metcalf in his Diary, 1876

Landscape easels were invented to accommodate the growing numbers of artists wanting to work en plein air. Not only are these easels smaller when fully assembled, but they fold up to make them easy to transport. Beginning in France, manufacturers began offering outdoor painting kits that combined a paint box with a portable easel. These contained most of the supplies needed for a day of painting, and the legs could be adjusted so that the canvas could be level even on uneven terrain. One popular version is named the Jullian easel, designed by Roger Jullian, a French prisoner of war during World War II, who devoted himself to designing and later manufacturing the perfect sketch box easel.

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