Final answer:
The artwork in question, Fra Filippo Lippi's Madonna and Child, was created with tempera on board in the mid-15th century. This painting technique was widely used in pre-Renaissance and Renaissance religious art, resulting in detailed and durable matte finish artworks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to Fra Filippo Lippi's artwork, specifically the Madonna and Child, which was created using tempera on board around 1440-1445. Tempera painting technique involves the use of pigment mixed with an egg yolk binder, and the medium is thinned and activated with water. The resulting paintings often exhibit meticulous detail and a matte finish due to the method of applying thin layers of paint, known as glazes. This technique was characteristic of pre-Renaissance and Renaissance art, allowing artists like Lippi, Duccio, and others to create intricate religious icons and compositions with sharp lines and vibrant colors.
Other artists, such as Duccio in his 'The Crevole Madonna', and works like the Baptism of Christ by Andrea del Verrocchio (with Leonardo), also utilized this medium and technique. As a result, tempera on wood or board was a common choice for many Italian artists of the time. Over time, advancements in painting led to the use of oil paints, as seen in Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna and Child with Saint Anne, which provided artists with different properties, such as a longer drying time and the ability to create more subtle gradations of tone.