Page 4 - Christie's Collecting Guide to Gold-Ground Paintings

Between Byzantine traditions and the revisions of the

Renaissance
Gold-ground painting took cues from Byzantine art, but also laid the foundations for the
Renaissance.

Gold, unlike any other colour, has the ability to radiate a warm, glowing light. And when
viewed by the flickering flame of a candle, gold shimmers with life. As a result, since at least
the 6th century, Christian artists used gold to represent divinity. The gold background of
Byzantine icons is a sacred stage for the subject’s message.

After the sack of the Byzantine capital Constantinople in 1204 by the knights of the Fourth
Crusade, many icons were carried back to Italy as booty. Not long after, Italian artists began to
adopt their motifs, styles and materials.

Roman School, c. 1275-1300, Eight Scenes from the Life of Christ. Tempera and gold on panel.
21¾ x 31⅛ in (55.3 x 79 cm). Sold for $1,470,000 on 22 April 2021 at Christie’s in New York

At the same time, these artists broke free from the Byzantine tradition of rigid, flat, linear
figures. Instead, they used half-tones to give volume and shadows to create depth. They also
added psychological depth to their figures’ facial expressions, as well as using complex
compositions and architectural references to establish narrative.

These principles would become the foundations of Renaissance art.