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Tempera paint is a very familiar material in the world of art. Before artists turned to oil-based paints, the murals and artworks of old were created using tempera paint.

What Is Tempera Paint?

Tempera paint sometimes referred to as egg tempera, is created by mixing egg yolk with coloured pigments that are tempered with a binding solution and other emulsions. Powdered tempera paint or pigment is grounded in distilled water and is then mixed with an equal amount of binder. Tempera paint colours dry fairly quickly and are unaffected by humidity and temperature, making them last longer. Unlike oil-based paints, tempera paints don’t darken as they age some of them are washable.

Paintings created with tempera give off a matte and powdery look, very similar to that pastels. Interestingly, damaged works made with tempera are mostly retouched using pastel. The creation of tempera paintings can be a very lengthy process, especially traditional ones. They are generally applied in thin layers with small brushstrokes which require great precision and focus. 

History of tempera paint, Art and colours

It is thought that non toxic tempera paint’s roots can be traced to classical antiquity. It was a common medium used by painters before the late-Renaissance and the emergence of oil-based paintings. It was used in ancient Babylonia, Greece, Egypt, and China. The paint was used to decorate early Egyptian sarcophagi in Egypt. It was also used on mummy portraits and cases, and was used on papyrus rolls.

It was also discovered that tempera paint was the medium used in early Christian catacombs. In the Byzantine era, tempera was used to create panel painting, altarpieces, and illuminated manuscripts. One of the best tempera alternatives is coloured play dough with good density.

Although tempera paint was later replaced by oil as the main art medium, several artists still prefer the use of tempera. Tempera has seen periods of revival in the 19th and 20th centuries at the hands of Pre-Raphaelites, Nazarenes, Social Realists, and other notable artists such as Joseph Southall, William Blake, Pietro Annigoni, Eliot Hodgkin, Remedios Varo, Giorgio de Chirico, Pyke Koch, and Otto Dix.

Tempera was also frequently used in the 20th century by Indian artists and American artists, more frequently by realists, regionalists, expressionists, surrealists, and even illustrators. It also saw a rise in the contemporary world and was used by artists such as Andrew Grassie, Shaul Shats, Alex Colville, Donald Jackso, Antonio Roybal, Phillip Aziz, and Altoon Sultan.

The cover of the famous science-fiction novel, Dune, was created using tempera paint and colours. Today, tempera paint remains the official medium used for icon paintings in the Greek and Russian Orthodox church in Eastern and Southern Europe.

Notable tempera Art and colours artworks on Canvas

Here are some of the most popular artworks that were made using tempera paint on canvas. These artworks can be found in popular museums and other notable places.

  • Guido da Siena, Madonna, 1285-1295, Church of San Regolo
  • Duccio Di Buoninsegna, Maestra, 1308-1311, Siena Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
  • Simone Martini, Christ on the Cross, 1340, Fogg Art Museum
  • Theophanes the Greek, Dormition of the Virgin, 1392, Tretyakov Gallery
  • Melchior Broederlam, The Dijon Altarpiece, 1394-1399, Museum of Fine Arts
  • Andrei Rublev, Holy Trinity Icon, 1411, Tretyakov Gallery
  • Masaccio, Virgin and Child, 1426, National Gallery London
  • Pisanello, Portrait of Ginevra d’Este, 1434, Louvre, Paris
  • Fra Angelico, The Annunciation, 1432-1434, Museo Diocesano
  • Paolo Uccello, Battle of San Romano, 1440, Uffizi
  • Enguerrand Quarton, The Avignon Pieta, 1454-1456, Louvre
  • Piero della Francesca, Flagellation of Christ, 1460, Galleria Nazionale delle Marche
  • Andrea Mantegna, Lamentation over the Dead Christ, 1470-1480, Pinacoteca di Brera
  • Giovanni Bellini, St Job Altarpiece, 1480, Galleria dell’Accademia
  • Piero di Cosimo, Potrait of Simonetta Vespucci, 1482, Musee Conde
  • Botticelli, Birth of Venus, 1482-1486, Uffizi
  • Filippino Lippi, Virgin and Child with Saints, 1485, Uffizi
  • Carlo Crivelli, The Annunciation with St Emidius, 1486. National Gallery London
  • Domenico Ghirlandaio, Old Man with a Young Boy, 1490, Louvre
  • Perugino, Pieta, 1494-1495, Uffizi
  • Vittore Carpaccio, Dream of St Ursula, 1495, Galleria dell’Accademia
  • Gentile Bellini, Miracle of the True Cross, 1500, Galleria dell’Accademia
  • water soluble

Non toxic tempera paints on Office Corporate

You can avail tempera paints if you want to recreate and/or replicate ancient and classical artworks, or if you simply want to dabble in a more sophisticated way of painting. Brands such as EC, Micador, and Koh offer tempera paints that you can use today and these are sold here at Office Corporate.

Office Corporate is an office and education supply company that operates in Australia, Melbourne. We have served various Australian businesses, establishments, and individuals for over 20 years. At Office Corporate, you will be assured high quality, branded, and durable products, affordability, convenience, and customer service.

A material like tempera art and coloure or powdered tempera paint needs to be crafted well and meticulously. Which is why you should only rely on trusted brands if you want to use this kind of material. Thankfully, Office Corporate only handles products from reliable brands. The tempera paints you’ll be able to purchase here are high in quality and perfect for your projects, activities, or to satisfy your hobby.

Purchase your powdered tempera paint at Office Corporate today and we’ll have it delivered right to your doorstep with our express delivery option. You will never have to leave the comforts of your own home should you decide to purchase today.

Aside from tempera paint, you can also avail other various supplies at Office Corporate today. Just to name a few, we can provide painting & accessories, art & craft materials and so much more. Browse through our items and you will see the most affordable options you’ll find on the market.

If you do stumble upon a different listing elsewhere that sells an item we do at a lower price, give us a message and we can arrange our Price Beat Promise to you. If we verify your message, we will beat the price you gave us by 2%! We make sure that your budget is always accommodated and this is our way of letting you know we actually are your most affordable and reliable option.

Wait no further. Shop tempera paint and colours at Office Corporate today and receive your items hassle-free.

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