Distemper

Description

An opaque, aqueous paint that dries to a matte finish and is not egg-based, i.e. Tempera. Distemper paints may have Gum, Glue, or Casein binders. They are often used for interior decorative projects such as stage sets, wall decoration, murals and wall paint. Occasionally, distemper paintings are varnished with a clear coat of glue size for protection. In 18th century homes, walls and ceilings were often covered with distemper as the thin, softer sheen was ideal for plaster surfaces.

Synonyms and Related Terms

glue tempera; glue paint; calcimine; gouache; détrempe; tüchlein; size painting; size color

Resources and Citations

• R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
• Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
• A Glossary of Paper Conservation Terms, Margaret Ellis (ed.), Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, New York City, 1998
• Paint in America, Robert Moss (ed.), John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1994 Comment: M.Phillips, "A Victorian Trompe l'Oeil"
• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
• Bill Bryson, ‘At Home: A Short History of Private Life’ Doubleday Publishers, London 2010.
• Wikipedia: Distemper (paint Accessed March 2025