With the publication in 1940 of The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques, Ralph Mayer assumed the position as the leading American art technologist of his generation. During the remaining thirty-nine years of his life he wrote three revisions of The Artist's Handbook (see AATA 9-743 and 19-495); two other books: The Painter's Craft, with one revision, and A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques (see AATA 8-62). He wrote columns for The Art Digest, and, for eighteen years, an influential monthly column titled, Technical Page, for American Artist Magazine. Among many other articles and professional papers Mayer was a contributor to the World Book, Encyc/opedia Americana and the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Although he was primarily known as a writer, Ralph Mayer thought of himself as an artist and practiced the painter's craft for over fifty years. Between 1943 and 1964 he was a teacher at Columbia University. He also taught at the Art Students League, the New School for Social Research, and other institutions. As a research technologist he founded and directed the Artists' Technical Research Institute. As a lecturer he presented papers for professional organizations such as IIC, AAM, and AIC. As a consultant to fellow artists, conservators, museums, federal regulatory agencies, and industry Mayer became an advocate for quality artists' materials. To that end he participated in the establishment of the U.S. voluntary Commercial Standards for Artists' Oil Paints, CS98-42 and CS98-62. It is my primary purpose to show that Ralph Mayer's gift to mankind was his lifelong contribution to our understanding of the technology of art. See also AATA 20-1893 for related paper and 21-1380 for entire proceedings.