Origins of Gesso Painting:

Gesso painting refers to the use of gesso—a white, paint-like ground material—as a preparatory layer on surfaces such as wood, canvas, or plaster before painting. The origins of gesso can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where artisans used a form of gesso made from calcium carbonate (such as chalk or gypsum) mixed with glue to prime wooden sarcophagi and panels before decorating them with paint and gold leaf. The use of gesso evolved significantly during the early Christian and Byzantine eras, when artists applied it to wooden panels for icons and religious art. This practice was refined further during the Italian Renaissance, when gesso became an essential foundation in tempera and later oil painting. Renaissance artists, including Giotto, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci, used multiple layers of traditional gesso—made from animal-skin glue (typically rabbit-skin glue) and chalk—to create smooth, absorbent surfaces ideal for detailed brushwork and luminous colours.

This traditional form, known as accurate or Italian gesso, dries hard and brittle, making it best suited for rigid surfaces, such as wood. It allowed for incising, gilding, and fine underdrawing, contributing to the detailed craftsmanship of early panel paintings and altarpieces. With the rise of canvas painting in the 16th and 17th centuries, artists adapted gesso recipes to be more flexible. In the 20th century, the development of acrylic gesso—a mixture of acrylic polymer, calcium carbonate, and titanium dioxide—revolutionised surface preparation. Acrylic gesso, unlike its traditional counterpart, is flexible and compatible with modern materials, such as cotton canvas, making it widely used in contemporary art. Today, gesso is not just a preparatory material but also a medium for creative exploration. Artists use it for texture, layering, and mixed-media work. Some even paint directly onto thick gesso surfaces for a sculptural effect. In summary, the origins of gesso painting lie in ancient craftsmanship and religious iconography, evolving through the Renaissance into a vital tool in modern and contemporary art. Its enduring role across centuries highlights its importance in achieving both technical excellence and creative expression.