Pastiglia
Pastiglia, an Italian term meaning "pastework", is low relief decoration, normally in gesso or another special form of plaster, applied to build up a surface that is then gilded or painted. The term is mostly found in English applied to gilded work on picture frames or small pieces of furniture such as cassoni, and also on areas of actual paintings.[1]
On frames and furniture the technique is in origin a cheaper imitation of woodcarving or metalwork techniques. Within paintings, the technique gives areas with a three-dimensional effect, usually those representing inanimate objects, such as architectural surrounds, halos and details of dress, rather than parts of figures. It is mostly found in the 14th and 15th centuries, especially in Italy.
In reference to work on paintings moulded and gilded gesso is still commonly described as pastiglia,[2] but in recent decades writers on furniture tend to distinguish between this and "true" pastiglia,[3] which is defined as being made from a powder made by combining powdered lead and vineager in an anaerobic environment. This is very delicate and used for small areas only.
Notes
- ^ National Gallery glossary
- ^ For example here and by the National Gallery
- ^ De Winter and Manni are the experts here