The Primer of Claude of France

Painting with gold

Artists' Techniques

Gold highlighting in the 'camaïeu d'or' technique has been used for blue and pink drapery folds and for other details.

The ochre-coloured clothing of the man refusing Mary and Joseph lodging, in the lower right scene, was painted with ‘artificial orpiment’, an unusual pigment which the artist utilised alongside the more common lead-tin yellow.