The term
Tempera is applied to any
paint in which
pigment is
tempered
(mixed) with a water-based binding medium which is usually
egg yolk.
Egg tempera is applied to a smooth surface such as
vellum (for illuminated
manuscripts) or more commonly to
hardwood panels prepared with
gesso - a
mixture of
chalk and
size (glue).
Hog hair brushes are used to apply the
gesso.
A layer of coarse gesso (gesso grosso) is followed by successive layers of fine
gesso (gesso sotile) that are sanded between coats to provide a smooth, yet
absorbent ground. The paint is applied with fine
sable brushes in thin layers,
using light brush strokes.
Tempera dries quickly to form a tough skin with a
satin sheen. The luminous
white surface of the gesso combined with the overlaid paint produces the brilliant
crispness and rich colours particular to this
medium.
Egg tempera
paintings are frequently
gilded with
gold. Leaves of finely
beaten gold are applied to a
bole (reddish brown clay) base and polished by
burnishing.
Materials for tempera panel painting:
Egg white
Egg yolk
Egg yolk binding medium
Size (glue)
Mortar and pestle
See http://www.btinternet.com/~eggtempera for more information on Egg Tempera paintings