To paint quickly while creating exceptional texture and volume effects, J. M. W. Turner and other English artists of his generation relied on the development of innovative gels. All the rage in the 19th century—and still in use today—these compounds alter the properties of the oil paints they are combined with. CNRS, UPMC, and Collège de France researchers have finally learned the chemical secrets behind these mixtures. Lead—in its acetate form—is essential for the formation of the gels. The team’s findings are published in the 9 January 2017 issue of Angewandte Chemie International Edition.