The Waiting Game Painting

All my egg temperas are painted on accurately prepared and sealed panels with a ground of 7-12 layers of highly absorbent marble dust gesso instead of chalk. The finished paintings are protected first with a polishing, then a coating of handmade shellac. This is finally coated with Renaissance Wax (developed by the British Museum) and polished to produce the beautiful soft egg tempera finish. All my oil paintings are given a final coat of retouch varnish for protection against pollution. Given that all mediums have some drawbacks egg tempera paintings are as tough as oil. Unlike oil egg tempera doesn't crack, craze or fade over time which can mean centuries (as long as prepared correctly and kept in proper conditions). But unlike oil, egg tempera is an organic medium because of the egg. Some people prefer to put egg tempera under glass, I guess because it's a water-based media, but it is not necessary and generally not a good idea as the painting cannot breathe under glass and can produce mildew under certain conditions. If this occurs it can be corrected easily by just placing the painting in the sun and then dusting off the mildew with a soft cloth. Following the standard for framing oil, or none in the case of cradled panels, is all that's necessary. You wouldn't throw an oil painting around so why think that you would an egg tempera!? Most damage, within reason, can be repaired.