There are at least two reasons why someone would choose to feature gold on an icon – although there are certainly many more than just these two. The first is the light that is emanated by gold. Gold has the ability to “convert colour into energy”, transforming a visible feature, like the tone that finds its closest correspondence in yellow (but also white), into an abstract element with a much deeper and more enveloping communicative power.
The natural consequence is that a material that has this potency will become the first choice when representing subjects of such magnitude as sacred figures, especially in the Christian and Orthodox faiths. After all, religious representations have been the favourite of artists and craftsmen for centuries, and gold is also one of the oldest metals that has been used in art. The two simply had to meet.
Icon gold: the solution designed specifically for iconography professionals
This is why, within Giusto Manetti Battiloro’s range of products, we have a product that is dedicated to exactly this type of use: gold leaf for iconography art. Icon Gold.
In particular, ours is a 22kt gold leaf, available in our shop, in the 80×80 mm size. It is specially designed to meet the very demanding requirements of water gilding, which is a technique that is used in iconography. This is a very ancient tradition that is handed down and (almost) completely unchanged over the centuries. It primarily involves the use of water (‘guazzo’) during the preparation of the background and when applying the leaf. We told you about it in this article.
When it comes to the composition, Giusto Manetti Battiloro gold leaf has an increased thickness that enhances the lustre of the gold, which is simply extraordinary. This results in a flawless mirror effect (today we would call it a wow effect!)
The production process has also been improved over the years, with the aim of eliminating any undesirable elements such as creases or veins in the leaf, thereby making it perfect. Our gold leaf is flawlessly applied, defects are minimised, and the results are the very highest quality.
“Flawless” gold leaf for an impeccable result
While we are interested in perfecting the performance of the product, it also becomes very important to perfect how it is applied, as it must be functional and simple. Therefore we are committed to producing gold leaf that is always uniform. The uniformity of each element guarantees greater ease during the application process, but above all it allows us to have an overall gold surface that is homogeneous and smooth, almost as if the applications were a single leaf.
Precisely for this reason, at Giusto Manetti Battiloro we also offer a selection of water gilding products and tools that assist you by providing a more precise application of the leaf.
Our selection includes burnishers, brushes for iconography on walls, namely Donatello and Michelangelo, and iconography on panels, such as Botticelli, Cimabue, Vasari and Masaccio.
Every element of Giusto Manetti Battiloro is designed for results that are sheer perfection. From our gold to the tools that are used to apply it, everything has to support this precise mission. However complex it is, we carry it out with passion, as we contribute to shaping the light.
