Why would famous artists mix oil and tempera paints? | Headline Science

The 15th century represents an important transition in art history, as oil paints gradually replaced egg-based tempera paints as the painting medium of choice. During the transition period, artists sometimes mixed materials, combining oils with tempera paint to create a blend known as tempera grassa. Reporting in ACS Applied Polymer Materials, researchers explored the effects of adding oil to tempera paint to better understand how various paint formulas would affect the appearance of finished works. Surprisingly, they found that adding oils to tempera paint does not slow its drying time, as had long been assumed. But artists may have had other reasons for creating the mixture, as the researchers discovered.
“Tempera and Tempera Grassa─From Wet Paints to Solid Films”
ACS Applied Polymer Materials
doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c00179
Corresponding authors: Ophélie Ranquet, Ph.D.; Celia Duce, Ph.D.; Patrick Dietemann, Ph.D.; Norbert Willenbacher, Ph.D.
Artworks
Mary with Child and Saints Dominic, Michael, John the Baptist and Thomas
Artist: Domenico Ghirlandaio and workshop
Full painting photo: Sibylle Forster
Detail photos: Daniela Karl
The Martyrdom of St Sebastian
Artist: Jacopo del Sellaio
Full painting photo and detail photo: Sibylle Forster
All artwork photos courtesy of
Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Alte Pinakothek München
(Bavarian State Painting Collections)
Research video by
Ophélie Ranquet, Ph.D.
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Very interesting!