Virgin and Child with Two Angels 1478

Andrea del Verrocchio and his workshop created this painting, Virgin and Child with Two Angels, on a wood panel using tempera paint. Tempera involves mixing pigment with a binder – traditionally egg yolk – a technique with ancient roots. Verrocchio would have started with a carefully prepared gesso ground, built up in layers to create a smooth surface. The tempera paint, applied in thin, translucent glazes, allows light to reflect through the layers, creating a luminous effect. The artist’s detailed approach is evident in the delicate rendering of fabric, skin, and hair, a testament to the skilled labor and craftsmanship inherent in this painting. Tempera demands precision, and the painting would have been a collaboration between Verrocchio and his workshop. Paying attention to these materials and processes reveals how traditional craftsmanship intersects with artistic expression, challenging distinctions between art and craft.