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in Naples
celebrating cel bra ing
Egg in Paint
ASK THE season

artsperts www.harmonmeek.com
in Naples
in Naples

by Kristine Meek and Juliana Meek 599 NINTH STREET, NORTH, SUITE 309 | NAPLES, FL 34102 | 239.261.2637

Dear Artsperts,
I saw an article that scientists recently analyzed Leonardo da
Vinci’s paint and discovered it contained protein, likely from eggs.
Can you tell me more about egg in paint?
Just Yolking

“Sunday Sunset Staten Island” by Adolf Dehn (1895-1968),
Casein on panel, 28” x 42”, 1956
Casein is paint created by mixing pigment with milk protein.

paint onto the surface because normal paint strokes take too long
with such fast drying paint. Tempera paintings are very long
lasting, and examples from the early centuries still exist today.
In fact, every surviving panel painting by Michelangelo is egg
tempera. Previously it was believed that egg tempera painting
was superseded by the invention and popularity of oil painting
beginning in the 1500s.
The discovery of protein in the oil paints of the Renaissance
“Bayside” by William Entrekin, Egg Tempera on panel, 24” x 24”, 2019. era sheds new light on these early oil paintings. Artists would
Egg Tempera has been used since ancient Egypt, where pigment is have been long familiar with egg tempera. It may have been that
mixed with egg yolk to create paint. they were more confident using egg yolk with pigments, instead
Dear Yolking, of relying solely on the new technique of mixing oil and pigment.
Artists have used both egg and milk protein in paints for There may have been other advantages in that the artists preferred
centuries. The surprise in this discovery is that Renaissance era the look of egg tempera, but wanted the convenience of oil paint.
artists were mixing egg with oil paint. We have long known about Oil paint is much easier to work with and it will last longer without
the process of creating egg tempera, where egg yolk is combined drying out. Artists of the Renaissance may have discovered that
with pigments. This technique was first used by ancient Egyptians. combining the process for creating egg tempera with creating oil
To better explain the process of creating egg tempera, the paint was the best of both worlds.
yolk is never used by itself with pigment because it dries almost We have not known any artist in recent times to combine egg
immediately and cracks once dried. To prevent this, artists use an yolk with oil paint. However, we have represented artists who
agent like vinegar, water, or white wine in variable proportions. work in egg tempera: Robert Vickrey (1926-2011) and William
As tempera dries, the artist will add more water to preserve the Entrekin. We also represent the estate of Adolf Dehn (1895-1968)
consistency and to balance the thickening of the yolk on contact who painted with casein, which is pigment combined with milk
with air. Once prepared, the paint cannot be stored. protein.
Egg tempera is water-resistant, but not waterproof. …And that’s no yolk!
Egg tempera is not a flexible paint – it dries both hard and Sincerely,
fast. Anyone whose house has been the victim of an egging The Artsperts
will understand this. To use this paint, artists almost “dot” the

22 Life in Naples | May/June/July 2023