Question asked 2019-04-08 15:36:08 ...
Most recent comment 2019-04-08 18:24:48
I am writing about imprimatura and have 2 questions.
Can an imprimatura tone a ground ANDan underdrawing or should it read ground OR underdrawing?
I know that an imprimatura can be a translucent glaze of paint, can it also be a colored size or colored varnish?
Answers and Comments
The term imprimatura was originally used to describe a
pigmented layer of paint containing a drying oil that was applied over a true gesso or chalk-glue
ground (usually over the ground and underdrawing). It served up to three
purposes. 1st and foremost, it cut the absorbency of the ground to
facilitate the application of oil paint. 2nd It could lock in or partially
obscure the underdrawing. 3rd It could provide an overall color to the painting,
which could be exploited by the artist (there are many examples of off-white or
pale gray imprimatua). There are certainly instances of clear oil or other
materials used to cut absorbency or to provide color and the use of the term
appears to have morphed a bit.
Today most people appear to use the term to describe a thin
transparent wash of oil color to provide a mid-valued surface (this is very
often a dull ochre, a rich burnt sienna, or raw umber like color) irrespective of
any underdrawing or the need to reduce absorbency. I prefer the earlier definition
of the term but like the in the case of the misuse of the word “gesso,” there
is only so much that I can do ;)
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