Gesso sottile

Description

A traditional final gesso layer containing fine Gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) particles in Parchment glue. Gesso sottile was prepared from the fine suspended particles of gypsum collected after soaking and stirring in excess water. It provides a smooth surface over the coarser gesso grosso base coat on panel paintings, sculptures and decorative plasterwork.

Resources and Citations

• Art in the Making: Italian paintings before 1400

• The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: "Gesso" Jonathan Stephenson

• R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966