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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, July 1924-April 1927

ARCH.2003.23, Rendition: 795041

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

The image appears to be a clipping from an old newspaper, specifically the "Baltimore Sun" dated July 1, 1924. The article discusses the historical use of egg as a medium in painting, particularly in tempera painting, which predates the use of oil paints. The text highlights how both the white and yolk of the egg were used to mix various pigments, with the yolk being preferred for the faces of young people due to its lighter color. The article also mentions how egg painting reached its perfection in Italy in the 15th century and how it has since been replaced by oil paints. The clipping is attached to a piece of paper that has a handwritten note at the top reading "E.R. Fogg Museum." This note suggests that the clipping might have been personally collected by someone associated with the E.R. Fogg Museum, which is now part of the Harvard Art Museums.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

The image is of a vintage newspaper clipping from the Evening Sun newspaper in Baltimore, Maryland, dated July 1, 1924. The headline reads: "‘OIL’ IN PAINTINGS DECLARED TO BE EGG". The article discusses the use of eggs in painting, specifically how both the white and yolk of eggs were originally used to mix various pigments.

The article explains that many paintings thought to be done with oil were actually created using egg-based mediums. It traces the history of egg-based paints back to the twelfth century in Italy and discusses their use in creating tempera paint. The article also mentions that the white of the egg was used for gilding, to hold gold leaf on panels and frames, while egg yolks were used for painting faces, especially for young persons, due to their lighter and less red color.

The text is divided into several sections, each with its own subheading, such as "Both White And Yolk Were Originally Used To Mix Various Pigments" and "Difference in Eggs, Too." The article also touches on the rivalry between city and country hens in the fifteenth century and how their eggs were used differently in painting. The clipping is slightly worn, with some folds and creases, and appears to be cut from a larger page.

Qwen, qwen.qwen3-vl-235b-a22b

This image displays a historical newspaper clipping mounted on a larger, aged piece of beige paper, which appears to be part of an archival collection.

Main Newspaper Clipping:

  • Headline: The most prominent text reads, ““OIL” IN PAINTINGS DECLARED TO BE EGG”. Below this, a sub-headline states: “Both White And Yolk Were Originally Used To Mix Various Pigments.
  • Content: The article, dated “Boston, July 1,” explains that many paintings traditionally labeled as “oil” paintings were actually created using egg as a binder. It details how egg white and yolk were mixed with water and pigment to form “tempera,” a technique used since the 12th century in Italy and across Europe. The article notes differences between egg whites from city hens (lighter, used for faces of young people) and country hens. It also mentions the use of egg yolk alone, and how egg painting (tempera) reached its peak in Italy during the 15th century before declining, unlike oil painting which persisted. It references the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard and notes Russia’s continued use of egg paint for religious icons.
  • Layout: The clipping is divided into two columns of dense, typewritten text.

Accompanying Paper:

  • Affixed above and slightly to the left of the clipping is a larger, aged, yellowed piece of paper with rough torn edges.
  • On this paper, there is handwritten text in pencil or a light ink at the top, which reads “21. R. Fogg Museum”.
  • Below this, stamped in purple ink, are the words: “eve. Sun, Baltimore, Md. JUL 11-1921”. This likely indicates the clipping was saved or cataloged on Sunday, July 11, 1921, by someone associated with “eve.” in Baltimore, Maryland, possibly linked to the Fogg Museum mentioned above.

Overall Appearance:

The entire object is presented against a plain, light grey background. The paper components are visibly aged, with yellowed tones and slight wear, suggesting it is an artifact from the early 20th century. The image captures an early example of art historical research being preserved, documenting a common misconception about painting materials that was corrected nearly a century ago.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image depicts a newspaper clipping with a headline that reads "Oil" in Paintings Declared to Be Egg. The clipping is placed on a gray background, and it seems to be part of a collection or archive. The clipping is from the Baltimore Evening Sun, dated July 4, 1924. The text discusses the historical use of eggs in painting, particularly the use of egg yolk and white as binding agents and pigments. It mentions that the practice of using eggs in painting persisted in Russia even after the introduction of oil, and that the art of egg painting reached its perfection in Italy during the fifteenth century. The clipping also touches upon the rivalry between city and country artists in the fifteenth century, where city artists used egg yolks from lighter hens to achieve brighter colors.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

A piece of paper is folded into a cross shape and is placed on a gray surface. It is an article from a newspaper, and it is titled "Oil in Paintings Declared to be Egg." The article talks about how oil was originally used to mix various pigments and how the yolk of an egg was used for faces and young persons. The article also talks about the rivalry between city and country in the fifteenth century in Italy.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image shows a historical newspaper clipping from the Baltimore Sun, dated July 1, 1924, discussing the use of egg in oil paintings. The article is titled "OIL" IN PAINTINGS DECLARED TO BE EGG, and it highlights the origins and significance of egg as a binding medium in various forms of art.

Key Details from the Image:

  1. Headline and Subheadings:

    • The main headline reads: "OIL" IN PAINTINGS DECLARED TO BE EGG.
    • Subheadings include:
      • "Both White And Yolk Were Originally Used To Mix Various Pigments."
      • "DIFFERENCE IN EGGS, TOO."
      • "City Hen's Yolk Lighter, And Was Used For Faces Of Young Persons."
  2. Content Overview:

    • The article discusses how egg was historically used as a binding medium in paintings, particularly in oil paintings, frescoes, and glass painting.
    • It explains that both the white and yolk of eggs were used to mix pigments, with the yolk being lighter and preferred for painting the faces of young people.
    • The article references historical practices in Russia, Italy, and other European countries, noting that egg was favored over oil in the Renaissance for its superior quality and durability.
    • It also mentions the perfection of egg painting in Italy during the fifteenth century, citing the example of a painter who spent 300–400 years achieving mastery.
  3. Visual Elements:

    • The clipping is slightly worn, with visible creases and edges, suggesting it is an archival or historical document.
    • There is a handwritten note at the top left corner, reading "2/E Frigg Murstand", which may indicate a cataloging or filing reference.
    • The text is printed in a standard newspaper font, with clear headings and body text.
  4. Historical Context:

    • The article provides insights into the evolution of painting techniques, emphasizing the role of natural materials like egg in achieving high-quality art.
    • It contrasts the use of egg with oil, highlighting the preference for egg in certain artistic traditions and its association with longevity and perfection in painting.

Summary:

The image depicts a historical newspaper article from the Baltimore Sun (July 1, 1924) that explores the use of egg as a binding medium in paintings. The article emphasizes the historical significance of egg in art, detailing how both the white and yolk were used, the preference for yolk in certain contexts, and the superiority of egg over oil in achieving high-quality, long-lasting paintings. The worn appearance of the clipping suggests it is a preserved historical document.

OpenAI, gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07

A small collage of vintage newspaper clippings mounted on a grey background. The pieces are aged, yellowed, and torn.

  • At the top is a pale orange label with handwriting and a stamped date/location (Baltimore, Md, with a JUL 11 date, and a note that looks like a museum label).
  • Beneath it on the left is a long clipping with a bold headline: “OIL IN PAINTINGS DECLARED TO BE EGG,” followed by subheads about white and yolk used to mix pigments and a line about the yolk being lighter and used for faces of young persons.
  • To the right is a smaller clipping with tighter text in two columns, discussing mixtures of egg with oil and varnish, and references to Russia and Italy’s history of egg-based painting.

Overall, it looks like a vintage ephemera art-piece, focusing on historical notes about egg-based pigments. The tones are warm and the edges are rough, giving it an old, documentary feel.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-11-20

This is an old newspaper clipping discussing the use of eggs in historical paintings. The main headline reads: "'Oil' in Paintings Declared to Be Egg." Below it, a subheading states: "Both White and Yolk Were Originally Used to Mix Various Pigments. Difference in Eggs, Too."

The article elaborates on how eggs, instead of oil, were used in many old paintings as part of the pigment-binding process. It mentions that egg whites and yolks were utilized for different purposes in art. There is a note about the yolks of city hens being lighter in color and preferred for painting youthful faces.

The text also references the historical techniques of using tempera made with egg yolk and varying regional traditions. Additionally, it touches on the rivalry between city and country eggs for art use and how egg yolk and white helped prepare surfaces for gilding.

The newspaper clipping originated from the Evening Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, dated July 14, 1924. Some handwritten text at the top says, "The Egg Medium." The article reflects historical perspectives on art techniques.

OpenAI, gpt-4

This image shows an old newspaper clipping placed against a plain gray background. At the top left, there's what seems to be a cataloging note or annotation on a piece of brown paper that is handwritten and reads "2 R 779 Druckman." Below this, the newspaper clipping is from "Eve. Sun Baltimore, Md.," and it is dated "JUL 1 - 1892."

The title of the newspaper article is clear and reads: "OIL" IN PAINTINGS DECLARED TO BE EGG." The article discusses the use of egg, both the white and yolk, in paintings. It states that these were originally used to mix various pigments. There's also a subheading "DIFFERENCE IN EGGS, TOO," indicating that the article may discuss variations in the use of different eggs for painting.

The article text that is visible explains that many pictures which pass as oil paintings were not done with oil at all. It mentions the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum at Harvard University and refers to the use of egg as a mixing agent with pigments for hundreds of years in Europe. It mentions that the use of egg persisted in Russia after the introduction of oil, was associated with Trinity egg paint, and implies a comparison between city and country eggs, noting that a city hen's yolk, being lighter, was used for the faces of young people.

The visible text cuts off at points as the article continues beyond the limits of the cut-out sections shown in the photo. The article appears to be a historical discussion of painting techniques, specifically the use of egg in tempera painting, which precedes the widespread use of oil in art.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-05-13

This image features an old newspaper clipping from the "Eve. Sun" in Baltimore, Maryland, dated July 14, 1922. The article is titled "'OIL' IN PAINTINGS DECLARED TO BE EGG," and discusses how both the white and yolk of eggs were originally used to mix various pigments for paintings. It highlights that early paintings were often not done with oil, contrary to common belief, and that eggs played a significant role in art historically. The article mentions a manuscript from the fifteenth century which stipulates that the yolk of city hens was lighter and used for painting the faces of young people, while the yolk of country hens was darker. The use of eggs in paintings lasted for many centuries, even after the introduction of oil, due to the unique properties it provided. The article points out that the tradition persisted in Russia, among other places, and refers to the historical competition between city and country eggs in art. The text also emphasizes that paintings using eggs were highly prized and admired, with egg-based processes employed for various art forms beyond traditional painting.