A fast-drying painting medium made by mixing colored pigments with a water-soluble binder like egg yolk. The technique produces bright, precise colors and fine detail but requires quick application before the paint dries.
From Italian 'temperare' meaning 'to mix' or 'to temper,' referring to the process of binding pigments with egg or other emulsions. Tempera was the dominant painting medium in Europe before oil painting became widespread in the 15th century.
Egg tempera was the high-tech medium of the Renaissance - artists literally painted with breakfast ingredients to create some of history's most enduring masterpieces! The egg yolk acts as both binder and preservative, which is why tempera paintings from 500 years ago still look incredibly fresh and vibrant today.
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