Founded in 1881 by Josef Horadam and Hermann Schmincke, Schmincke have been producing the finest artist colours for four generations. Starting with their range of Mussini finest dammar resin oil colours and followed 11 years later by their Horadam Aquarell finest watercolours, the company has gone from strengh to strength. In 1998 the fourth generation owner president Peter Hesse passed the baton on to his carefully selected sucessor Nils Knappe, who continues to run the company today.