Tempera Paint: Oldest And Most Traditional Type Of Paint
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| Tempera Paint |
Tempera paint, also known as poster paint, is a fast-drying decorative paint
that employs pigment and binder to produce vibrant, luminous colors. Tempera
paints were popularized amongst school children learning basic painting techniques
due to its ease of use and quick drying time. However, it also has historical
significance and continues to be used by both amateur and professional artists
today.
History of Tempera Paint
Tracing its Origins in Early Frescoes
Tempera painting has its origins in early mural and fresco paintings produced
by ancient civilizations. Some of the earliest known examples of tempera work
include frescoes found in Egyptian tombs from as early as the 10th century BCE.
These frescoes employed egg yolk as the binder forpigments which produced
brilliantly colored images that endured for thousands of years. This same
technique was later spread by Greek and Roman artists who popularized the usage
of tempera for murals and portraits. Major works like the Fayum mummy portraits
also showcase the artistic mastery achieved using tempera as the medium.
Rise to Prominence in Medieval
Manuscripts
During the Medieval period from the 5th to 15th century, Tempera
Paint saw widespread usage for illuminating manuscripts and books of hours.
Monks working in scriptoriums would apply thin layers of tempera to vellum and
parchment pages to produce intricately decorated letters and images. Tempera
allowed for fine details and blending of colors which enhanced the beauty of
religious texts. Many preserved manuscripts from this era display the
virtuosity achieved through tempera techniques. This proliferation of
illuminated manuscripts also served to spread tempera painting methods across
Europe during the Middle Ages.
Transition to Panel Painting in
Renaissance
The rise of panel painting on wood surfaces with the onset of the Renaissance
led to new experimentation with tempera recipes and techniques. Early
Renaissance masters like Cimabue and Giotto adopted tempera as their preferred
medium for frescoes and altarpieces. Later Italian masters such as Duccio and
Fra Angelico incorporated refined glass techniques, lustrous gold and complex perspectives
in their tempera masterpieces. This established tempera as a vehicle for
achieving photo-realism and set artistic standards that lasted for centuries to
come.
Properties and Characteristics of
Tempera Paint
Understanding the Pigments and Binders
Tempera paint derives its name from the Latin "temperare" meaning
"to mix". At its core, tempera comprises of powdered pigments mixed
with a water-soluble binder. Commonly used pigments include natural earth
colors like ochres, azurite and vermilion along with more vibrant synthetic
shades. Traditional binders included egg yolk, whole egg or in some cases, gum
arabic or glue. Modern tempera relies on acrylic polymer emulsion as the
binder. The temporary emulsion allows the pigments to bond with the surface
while permitting absorption into the substrate via capillary action.
Fast Drying with Luminous Color Qualities
One of the key properties of tempera is its ability to dry rapidly on
application - usually within 8-24 hours depending on layer thickness and
environmental conditions. This fast drying nature arose from the evaporative
qualities of the egg yolk or acrylic binder. Tempera pigments retain their
brilliance due to the way they penetrate and are bound within the substrate.
The resulting colors maintain a luminosity not seen with other mediums like
oil. Tempera is also opaque with each brushstroke visible against the ground
layer - allowing for blending of colors directly on the painting surface.
Ideal for Layering Techniques on Diverse Surfaces
The water-soluble nature of tempera lends itself well to building up
compositions through multiple glaze layers. Translucent shades can be applied
over a dark ground for luminous effects. Tempera may be used on a wide variety
of surfaces from traditionally prepared gesso panel and parchment to modern
papers, boards or even aluminum composites. Its absorbency means paintings do
not flake or crack easily with age - enduring for centuries when properly
prepared and preserved.
Suitability for Education and Amateur Use
Given its fast drying properties, lack of toxic fumes and relative
inexpensiveness; tempera became a popular teaching medium for art classes.
Children could experiment freely without prolonged wait times between layers.
Its behavior is intuitive and eliminates many complexities encountered with
other mediums. Even today, tempera in tubes or pans remains widely available
and accessible for beginners and casual painters to explore technique.
Contemporary Usage of Tempera Paint
Continued Use by Old Masters
While oil painting gained popularity in the post-Renaissance period, tempera
retained its place as a favored medium amongst certain studios and artists.
16th century Mannerist artists like Pontormo, Bronzino and Raphael experimented
with classical tempera techniques in their works. 17th century painters
Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentileschi produced technically superb altarpieces
and portraits using egg tempera that endure in churches to this date. Their
mastery demonstrated tempera's potential for realistic depictions when
skillfully handled.
New Techniques Borrowed Across Mediums
Contemporary artists still adopt and innovate tempera styles according to
individual stylistic languages. Some employ classical fresco secco techniques -
applying powdered pigments onto wet plaster with a final egg tempera glaze.
Others integrate airbrushing, glazing and scumbling methods from oil and
acrylic works into tempera compositions. Experiments with abstract color theory
and new primer grounds have expanded tempera's visual vocabulary. The work of
Russian icon painter Fr. Theodore Jurewicz exemplifies tempera's fusion with
modern aesthetics.
Preservation and Study of Art History
Tempera endures as an archetype in the preservation of ancient art history
across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Conservation efforts to restore faded
frescoes employ tempera pigments scrutinized under microscopic analysis.
Recreations by art students employing original techniques educate about lost
artistic traditions. Additionally, tempera painting emerges as a lens to
reconsider feminist narratives through illuminated works by medieval women
artists now being rediscovered. All in all, tempera paint retains its
significance both as a medium with evolving styles and role in shaping our
understanding of artistic heritage.
With over two millennia of rich history across diverse cultures, tempera paint
has cemented its place in the artistic tradition both past and present. From
classical frescoes to illuminated manuscripts to iconic Renaissance
altarpieces, tempera continues to inspire and motivate new generations.
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