grisaille

Grisaille painting ? (painting in black and white)

In this form of decoration the motifs are painted in monochrome, i.e. in one colour only. Grey is usually chosen for this technique, hence the name which comes from the French word ?gris? meaning grey. The paint is mixed in different shades of brightness and applied in such a way as to give the painting a spacious appearance.

Grisaille painting can be combined with a range of other techniques -from the realistic depiction of a statue using trompe d?oeil to the decorative imitation of reliefs and stucco. Trompe l?oeils with any shade of brightness, however diverse, can be painted using the grisaille technique.