Page 435 - (DK) The Ultimate Visual Dictionary 2nd Ed.

TEMPERA
EXAMPLE OF A TEMPERA PAINTING
Presentation in the Temple, Ambrogio Lorenzetti, 1342 PIGMENTS FOR
Tempera on wood, 8 ft 5⅛ in × 5 ft 6 ⅛in (257 × 168 cm) FLESH-COLOR
PAINTING
Altarpiece Textured gold ornament made
commissioned for by punching motifs into the
Siena Cathedral, Italy gilded surface

The red tinge of
the bole is just
visible beneath Edge of a sheet
the gold of gold leaf VERDACCIO

Crisp edge
characteristic of
tempera painting

Vine black used
to create the Highlights on VERMILION AND
dim cathedral the beard made LEAD WHITE
interior by applying thin
layers of white
over dried paint
Raised right hand
Red drapery
painted in and pointing finger
is the gesture of
vermilion
prophecy
VERMILION
Receding floor
tiles create the
impression of
depth Patch of discolored
varnish, left from
last cleaning

EXAMPLES OF PIGMENTS
Warm flesh RED EARTH
tones achieved (IRON OXIDE)
by layering
vermilion and
white over an Patterned gold
undercoat of halo glitters in
verdaccio candlelight

MALACHITE ULTRAMARINE
LAPIS LAZULI Ultramarine
lapis lazuli, as
costly as gold,
was reserved for Craquelure
significant (pattern of
figures such as cracks in
the Virgin Mary the paint)
DETAIL FROM “PRESENTATION
VINE BLACK LEAD TIN YELLOW IN THE TEMPLE”

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