Tempera

Tempera is a special kind of paint that dries very quickly and lasts a long time. It is made by mixing special colors called pigments with a sticky substance that can dissolve in water. The most common kind of tempera is called egg tempera because it uses egg yolk to make the paint stick.

There are other kinds of tempera too. Some use a protein from milk and are called casein paint. Others use a synthetic material called PVA and are known as polyvinyl acetate tempera. In some places, a paint made from cornstarch and gum is also called tempera, but it works more like gouache.

People have used tempera for many years to make beautiful paintings, and it is still used today because it is strong and dries fast.

Etymology

The word "tempera" comes from the Italian phrase dipingere a tempera, which means "paint in distemper." This Italian term itself comes from a Latin word, distemperare, meaning "to mix thoroughly."

History

The earliest known examples of egg tempera are prehistoric murals painted in ancient tombs in Sardinia around 3400–2700 BCE. Scientists have also found egg tempera in murals from the Palace of Nestor in Pylos dating back to 1200 BCE.

Tempera was widely used in the classical world and became the main painting method in Byzantine, Medieval, and Early Renaissance Europe. Famous artists like Michelangelo used egg tempera for many of their paintings. Later, oil paint became more popular, especially in the 15th century, but tempera is still used today in places like Greece and Russia for traditional religious artwork.

Technique

Tempera is a type of paint made by mixing colored powders called pigments with a sticky substance, or binder, such as egg yolk or milk. The most common kind is egg tempera, where only the egg yolk is used. The egg yolk is mixed with water and the pigment to create the paint. Artists usually add a tiny bit of vinegar to help keep the paint from spoiling, but not too much, or it can change the color. The paint needs to be mixed carefully to keep the right thickness, and it must be used right away because it cannot be stored.

When tempera paint dries, it creates a smooth finish. It is usually applied in thin layers, which makes it great for detailed work. Unlike oil paints, tempera cannot be applied in thick layers, so the colors are not as deep. However, the colors stay the same over time, unlike oil paints, which can change. Tempera works best on stiff surfaces like wood or special boards, and it is often used for detailed paintings and decorations.

Artists

Tempera painting has been used by many artists over the centuries. Though it fell out of favor after the Renaissance and Baroque periods, artists like William Blake, the Nazarenes, the Pre-Raphaelites, and Joseph Southall helped bring it back. In the 19th and 20th centuries, many more artists began using tempera again, especially after the work of Cennino Cennini was published and the Society of Painters in Tempera was formed in 1901.

Famous European artists who used tempera include Giorgio de Chirico, Otto Dix, and Pietro Annigoni. In America, tempera was popular among Regionalists like Andrew Wyeth and Thomas Hart Benton, as well as many other artists from different styles. In India, painters from the Bengal school such as Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose also used tempera. Today, many contemporary artists around the world continue to work with tempera, keeping this ancient painting technique alive.