How did the Renaissance change the use of tempera painting?

During the Renaissance, the use of tempera underwent significant changes as it was gradually superseded by oil painting. While tempera had long been the standard medium for panel and altarpiece painting, the evolving requirements of Renaissance artists—who sought greater tonal range and depth—led to new technical adaptations.12

Key changes in the use of tempera included:

• Mixed Media Techniques: As oil paints became more accessible, artists began using them in conjunction with traditional tempera. Painters often used tempera for the initial linear draftsmanship and underpainting, then applied transparent oil glazes over the top to achieve greater luminosity and depth.12
• Integration of Oil: Some artists, such as Sandro Botticelli, began adding oil directly to the tempera emulsion to modify its working properties.1
• Shift in Perspective: While early Renaissance painters continued the tradition of using tempera, they expanded upon the flattened picture space of the Byzantine style by incorporating the new mathematical perspective developments of the era.13

By the late 15th century, following the introduction of works like the Portinari Altarpiece to Florence, the superior blending capabilities of oil glazes led many central Italian painters to transition away from pure egg-yolk tempera.32