Philosophy and Grammar 

Gentile da Fabriano’s “Philosophy and Grammar” was made using tempera on panel. Tempera is a traditional medium, made by binding pigment with egg yolk. This lends the painting a distinctive matte finish, and demands a high level of skill: the paint dries very quickly, making it difficult to rework. Fabriano has used this to his advantage, creating crisp lines and clear forms. The choice of tempera reflects the medieval tradition of manuscript illumination, with its emphasis on precision and detail. However, the architectural settings also reveal a growing interest in naturalism, which would come to full flower in the Renaissance. By bringing the techniques of manuscript production to panel painting, Fabriano blurs the lines between craft and fine art. The intense labor and meticulous execution of "Philosophy and Grammar" remind us that all art is, at its heart, a form of skilled making.