Saint Vincent

This image of St. Vincent and that of St. Stephen [MFA Object No. 20.1855b] are fragments of a multi-paneled altarpiece. Their unusually well-preserved paint surfaces give a good sense of the original appearance of tempera paintings. The artist first outlined his composition on a wooden panel covered with fine plaster called gesso. The gold leaf was applied over a thin layer of colored clay called bole, leaving uncovered the areas to be painted. Pigments mixed with water and egg yolk as a binder were laid on in many tiny strokes that dried quickly. The artist first painted the middle tones, then added shadows and highlights on top.