VIRGIN AND CHILD

The icon of Virgin and Child was designed and executed by RARA for the new chapel of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Wayzata, Minnesota. An entire wall was set aside for this icon. The technique is egg tempera and 24K gold leaf on a gessoed wood panel.

Egg tempera is a very elaborate yet very durable and beautiful technique. It produces paintings with soft and subtle coloring and lends itself to a linear style. This technique works best when the composition of the painting is based on precise drawing. Egg tempera (named also classic tempera), uses quick drying paints and employs successive applications of opaque and translucent paint. It requires a white ground that will reflect light through the thin applications of paint. Tempera binding media is the entire egg or, in this case, the yolk alone. Egg tempera was extensively used in the Byzantine world and in the first half of the Renaissance.