Egg Tempera: 17th Century Dutch Flower Paintings

About this course

The course begins with close study of selected 17th-century Dutch flower paintings, followed by painting exercises in egg tempera on gesso grounds. Participants first interpret a single flower before developing a larger composition, either from an original idea or a 17th-century image. Teaching introduces the medium’s layered process, moving from dark to light, alongside fine brushwork, dry-brush methods and glazing. Reference images from Old Masters’ paintings are used to inform the work.

What you'll learn

• Apply egg tempera to a gesso ground
• Build a painting in layers from dark to light
• Use fine brushwork, dry-brush methods and glazing
• Develop a larger flower composition from an original idea or historical image

Is this course right for you?

Listed as suitable for all levels, the course does not provide further entry guidance about previous experience. Participation involves studying historical reference images and completing individual painting exercises, progressing from a single-flower interpretation to a larger composition.