Arts & Culture
Key Differences Between Tempera and Oil Painting Techniques
Quick fact
Egg tempera dries in seconds, forcing artists to build color with tiny, hatched strokes, whereas oil paint can stay workable for days, allowing soft blends and transparent glazes.
Why this is interesting
You've seen the luminous glow of a Renaissance altarpiece and the deep shadows of a Baroque portrait. Why did artists switch from tempera to oil—and what did they gain or lose?