Question from a foreigner.

[Allan Rahbek]

What is the meaning of the terms " Body Color" and "Dead Color" ?

Is it the same as "local color", the color of the thing that is painted, without any influence of light or reflections?

Thanks, Allan.

[Michele Rushworth]

I'm not sure those terms have any generally-agreed-upon meanings. I could only guess, which may not be whatever the author intended.

[Allan Rahbek]

Michele,
this is from the ARC Articles - The Painter in Oil - Daniel Burleigh Parchurst - Page 9 / 10.
"Luminosity. The impressionist is imbued with the fact that all the light by means of which things are at all visible is luminous - that it vibrates. He does not think that living light can be represented by dead color."

"body color" I have seen used in that same article and other places too.

Allan

Ps. I see now that "dead color" could be something like "one plain color" in contrast to the effect of two contrasting colors that interacts.
Body color is still in question.

[Claudemir Bonfim]

Hi Allan,

I'm also a foreigner, but as far as I'm concerned, dead color is a color which has no gloss upon it. Artists like Rembrandt used to apply a layer of dead color on the canvas and then paint on it, it was a dark toned paint. If you visit www.angelartschool.com/secret.htm secret.htm you will see an example of painting with Caravaggio's technique with the dead color.

Body color is a paint or pigment that has consistency, thickness, or body, in distinction from a tint or wash.

Hope it helps buddy.

[Mari DeRuntz]

I've heard the term "dead palette" as meaning a very limited palette comprised of an earth red, an earth yellow, a black (that tints blue) and flake white.

[Allan Rahbek]

Bonfim and Mari,
Thanks for your reply