Sennelier : Egg Tempera

Sennelier Egg Tempera is an authentic formulation of classic egg tempera as used by artists since the Renaissance.

Much of the religious panel painting done between the 12th and the 15th century was done in this delicate and subtle medium, which is capable of detailed and complex effects. More recently, Sennelier egg tempera has become famous as the medium used by Marc Chagall in many of his most spectacular works.

Egg tempera is a semi-opaque water soluble and permanent painting medium wonderful for fine art painting, restoration and icon painting. It is perfect for oil painters who need a highly pigmented fine art alternative to oil painting and its solvents. Its archival characteristics are excellent and do not age or yellow like oil paints, as evidenced by the lasting luminosity and beauty of Renaissance paintings.

Sennelier uses the same premium quality pigments in this line of egg tempera as they do in their oil paints, assuring the same unequalled vibrancy and brilliance as in the Sennelier oils. The pigments are bound with an centuries-old egg emulsion recipe, giving a satin-matt finish that is water-resistant when dry. Sennelier egg tempera has working qualities and a finish that is only found in authentic egg tempera made in this traditional manner. These delicate colours hold their brush strokes, and do not change when dry. They can be worked with a brush or a palette knife (diluted with water) on non-greasy supports. Egg tempera is best applied in thin coats onto a rigid support such as board or gessoed wood panel. Pronounced impasto techniques are not recommended for egg tempera.

Varnished egg tempera paintings look like oil paintings when varnished. It is recommended to give a finished egg tempera painting a coating of charcoal or pastel fixative before applying a final oil paint picture varnish.