BackOld Masters May Have Used Egg Yolk in Oil Paintings, Study Finds

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CNN World7/18/2026Science7 min read

Old Masters May Have Used Egg Yolk in Oil Paintings, Study Finds

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A new study suggests Old Masters like da Vinci and Botticelli intentionally used egg yolk in oil paintings for enhanced properties, contradicting previous assumptions of contamination.

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The use of egg yolk in oil paintings by Old Masters has been a topic of debate, with previous detections often attributed to contamination.

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How widespread was the practice of adding egg yolk among Old Masters?
What other unrecorded techniques might have been used?

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Old Masters May Have Used Egg Yolk in Oil Paintings, Study Finds

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Old Masters May Have Used Egg Yolk in Oil Paintings, Study Finds

Quick Look

Why It Matters

Open Questions

Related Topics

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