Tempera

Tempera

PORTRAIT OF A MAN BY ANTONELLO DA MESSINA

As early as ancient Egypt, artists have used various forms of tempera paint. Egg yolks, carefully separated from the egg whites, have been used as a binding agent to stick coloured pigment to a surface. During the Middle Ages pure gold was often added to egg yolk to paint backgrounds. Later, oil was mixed with the egg tempera. Today a special oil, or glue is used with pigment. Tempera is a quick drying paint, that appears flat, not shiny. [MH] {NR}