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Reliquary icon – The Five Wounds of Christ (from an art series: Reliquary icons)

2013, levkas, egg tempera, gilding, sculpted wood board, 45 x 28 cm, collection of the chaplaincy of The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta in Klebark Wielki, Poland (ID: 6099)

Not available

Levkas (gesso) - (from the Greek word leukos, meaning white), a glue and chalk primer used in panel painting and gilding. It is applied hot on the icon, usually in about twelve layers. One layer for one day. The prayer of the ritual then directs its attention to the Apostles (one for each layer). It recalls their deeds and asks for intercession.

Egg tempera - the most durable technique, next to wax tempera, in which the binder of colours is organic. It can be wine, vinegar or water mixed with egg yolk (egg tempera). This technique has been known since antiquity and was most popular in the Middle Ages. Unlike oil painting, the paint dries quickly, becomes brighter when dry and it is more difficult to select and mix colours.