Florentine "Madonna and Child" Forever Stamps, 2016 Booklet – Religious Christmas Cards and Letters

Each Florentine artist had a slightly different technique, but their styles and themes often overlapped.  The most common style was naturalism or realism.  This concept focused on creating realistic paintings and sculptures that were usually very detailed, precise, and life-like.  

The most common medium used by 15th century painters was egg tempera on wooden panels.  The paint was created by mixing powdered pigments with egg yolk and sometimes white wine or vinegar.  Egg tempera often smelled strongly, even after the painting had completely dried.  Many artists mixed myrrh (a pleasant-smelling resin) with their paint to mask the odor.