Why did Jacob Lawrence prefer the tempera medium? Discuss how the medium influenced his sense of design. Compare his use of tempera to that of Girolamo dai Libri, as seen in his work, Manuscript Illumination with the Holy Women at the Tomb.

What will be an ideal response?

Lawrence explained that he was drawn to the "raw, sharp, rough" effect of tempera colors, qualities he brings out quite well in his scrappy handling here, with paint applied sparingly to simplified forms. The medium also lends itself well to clear designs, emphasizing pattern and color. He says, "I liked design. I used to do things like rugs by seeing the pattern. . . I used to make these very symmetrical designs in very bright primary and secondary colors. . . . And then I did masks. . . . And again they were very symmetrical." The tempera paintings the artist completed as an adult share these qualities. Libri used the medium in a much more ornate way, building up the forms of his work slowly and patiently through layers of small, precise brushstrokes. The shimmering gold provides textural variation and an air of holiness.