News Chemistry

Here’s why some Renaissance artists egged their oil paintings

Mixing yolk with oil paints may have helped prevent yellowing and cracking, scientists say

An oil painting showing a woman holding the body of Jesus Christ while another woman holds his head and another his feet. There are several men standing around and looking at the scene. All are brightly dressed.

In Lamentation Over the Dead Christ, Italian artist Sandro Botticelli used oil paint mixed with egg yolk to paint the stone tomb and grass. The medium may have added texture and helped prevent yellowing and cracking, scientists say.

© Bavarian State Painting Collections, Munich

By Jude Coleman

Art historians often wish that Renaissance painters could shell out secrets of the craft.