Renaissance painters used egg yolks for vibrant art
Renaissance artists mastered egg tempera, a yolk-based paint that delivered luminous, durable colors, preserving their masterpieces and offering enduring insights into their world.
Early Renaissance artists, especially in the 15th century, painted with egg tempera, mixing dry pigments with egg yolk. This technique created incredibly vibrant, jewel-like colors that still glow today, as seen in Fra Angelico's 1440 San Marco Altarpiece. The egg binder allowed light to reflect through thin, translucent layers, giving paintings a luminous quality.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz