caballete

Caballete refers to a stand or frame used by painters to support a canvas, panel, or board while they work. In English this device is commonly called an easel. The term caballete derives from the Italian cavalletto or the French cabalet, meaning a small support or horse-like frame used to bear weight, and has come to denote the artist’s stand in many Spanish-speaking contexts.

Different forms include tripod easels, which have three legs and are portable; studio or H-frame easels, which provide a robust, adjustable cradle for larger canvases; and tabletop or portable plein air easels that sit on a table or fold for travel. Some easels tilt the painting to a more vertical or inclined position; height is adjustable, and many models include a ledge or lip to keep the canvas from sliding, plus brackets or trays for brushes and paints.

Materials range from wood—often pine, beech, or maple—to metal such as aluminum or steel. Wooden easels are typical of traditional studios and can be heavier but warmer in appearance; metal models tend to be lighter and easier to transport. Operation typically involves adjusting the tilt and height with knobs, screws, or spring-loaded clamps.

Historically, easels have been used since the Renaissance to hold large canvases and to give painters freedom of movement. In contemporary practice, caballetes are common in studios and plein air setups alike, available in a range of sizes to accommodate small studies or large works.

See also: Easel, Plein air painting.