French-made Kolinsky sable. Exceptional flow and point. The miniature painter's benchmark.
The Raphael 8404 is a pure Kolinsky sable brush handmade in France, widely regarded as the benchmark for miniature and watercolour painting. It features a generous belly that holds a large volume of paint, a fine natural point that snaps back consistently, and excellent flow characteristics that make it suitable for everything from controlled detail work to smooth basecoating.
Compared with Winsor & Newton Series 7, the 8404 has a slightly larger belly and softer feel, which gives it better paint capacity and longer working time. Compared with Artis Opus Series S, it offers a similar premium Kolinsky experience but with a longer heritage and wider availability. The 8404 is the brush most experienced miniature painters recommend as a first premium sable purchase.
What makes this brush special
Exceptional point retention — the natural Kolinsky hair springs back to a needle point after every stroke. Large belly relative to size gives outstanding paint capacity. Smooth, controlled flow without flooding. Softer feel than W&N Series 7, firmer than Rosemary & Co Series 33. The gold standard for all-round miniature painting.
Medium compatibility
Watercolour
Smooth flow for washes, controlled lines and fine points.
Miniature Paints
Works well with fluid hobby acrylics for detail, layering and controlled basecoating.
Gouache
Handles opaque water-based paint when thinned to a brush-friendly consistency.
Ink
Good for fluid inks; clean promptly after use.
Acrylic
Best with properly thinned acrylics, especially for detail and glazing.
Great for
All-round miniature painting — one brush handles detail, blending, and basecoating
Smooth glazes and blends where controlled paint release matters
Long painting sessions — the belly holds enough paint for extended work
First premium sable purchase — versatile enough to justify the investment
Technique & use
Detail Work
Glazing & Blending
General Painting
Lining
Edge Highlighting
Less ideal for
Heavy drybrushing — will damage natural sable fibres quickly
Very thick paints or texture pastes — designed for fluid paints
Painters who prefer a stiffer, more resistant brush feel
Budget-conscious buyers — this is a premium investment brush
Size chart coming soon — variant dimensions not yet populated for this series.
How to care for your brush
Clean promptly after each painting session with lukewarm water, working paint out gently from ferrule to tip. Use brush soap (Masters or equivalent) weekly for deep cleaning. Reshape the point after washing and let dry horizontally or tip-down. Never leave standing in water. Never use hot water. Avoid metallic paints and aggressive solvents which degrade natural hair. With proper care, expect 2-5 years of regular use.
