The Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting (Dover Art Instruction) [Paperback]

Daniel V. Thompson (Author), Art Instruction (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Art Instruction | Publication Date: June 1, 1956

Sums up 20th-century knowledge: paints, binders, metals, surface preparation. Based on manuscripts and scientific investigation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1956)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486203271
• ISBN-13: 978-0486203270
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Medieval
  • #78 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Byzantine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

99 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent primer for illuminators and painters, December 1, 1998

By 

C. Nevin (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting (Dover Art Instruction) (Paperback)

The book covers a history of carriers and grounds, binding methods and vehicles, their viscosity and transparency effects, pros and cons of different binding media, glazes and varnishes. It then gives a classification of medieval pigments and details the main pigments used to produce colours on the page, wall and panel. Mixing, reaction and permanence problems with pigments, confusion of identification, and history are described. Metals are also discussed, including types of gold media and gilding methods. This is an absolutely essential book for anyone (and especially SCAdian illuminators) interested in the building blocks of medieval painting. It will give you a good grounding in the basics and help you understand the resources, techniques and mindset of medieval artists. I cannot recommend it enough. It is also an entertaining read(if occasionally unintentionally).

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!, July 22, 2005

By 

Art E. Nthusiast (Southwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting (Dover Art Instruction) (Paperback)

Very interesting read if you are interested in how medieval painting was done and what methods and techniques were used. Written in a conversational format, making it a quick read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Materials yes - Techniques not really, April 28, 2010

By 

yaya "yaya" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting (Dover Art Instruction) (Paperback)

I wish I'd read the other reviews carefully before ordering this. I have The Practice of Tempera Painting by Thompson (which is very detailed on the technical aspects of tempera painting) and I was expecting something similar here. Unfortunately it is heavy on material info (mostly about the pigments used) but almost nothing usable about medieval painting techniques or methods.

Since most of the pigments mentioned are extremely toxic it's doubtful the book would be of much use except as a source of historical information. I, for one, would never have these pigments (lead, arsenic, mercury, etc) in my studio in powdered form. Very dangerous stuff!