Opus Resource Library

Gold - The Sacred and Secular Art of Gold

a beautiful selection of art materials in the colour gold including bottles of ink, an oil stick, tubes of paint, dry pigment and a spray can of gold paint.

There is a huge range of art materials for all mediums available in beautiful, warm, reflective gold.

Gold: The Sacred and Secular Art of Gold

Gold, with its luminosity, scarcity, and permanence has captivated civilizations across time all around the globe.

A small dish with a sprinkling of Schmincke Aqua Bronze Metallic Pigment in Gold

Schmincke Aqua Bronze Metallic Pigments are highly reflective dry powders that can be mixed with water to create a paint. Shown here in Gold

Gold in Ancient Times

In ancient Egypt, this radiant metal was treasured as the “flesh of the gods,” its glow symbolizing divine power. Egyptian artisans dressed pharaohs and deities with gilded artifacts and intricate jewelry, while tombs were lined with golden objects intended to accompany the dead into the afterlife. In the civilizations of Mesoamerica, it was also revered as a sacred material. The Incas saw it as the "sweat of the sun," symbolizing life, purity, and continuity. Elaborate pieces, from masks to ritualistic objects, showcased not only a deep spiritual reverence but also the technical prowess of pre-Colombian metalworkers. Tragically, much of this heritage was lost to colonial conquest, as Spanish invaders sought to melt down these works of art, reducing them to mere bullion.

In East Asia, particularly in Japan, gold took on a unique aesthetic in practices such as Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold lacquer, turning fractures into beautiful, visible veins of gold. This tradition not only reflects the preciousness of the metal but also a philosophical embrace of imperfection and renewal. Gold-leaf techniques flourished in Japan, especially during the Edo period, where screens and other artworks were embellished with gold to create breathtaking scenes that shimmered with life and depth.

During the Islamic Golden Age (8th–14th centuries), gold was extensively used in both religious and secular art, symbolizing divine light and spiritual transcendence. It adorned manuscripts, particularly the Quran and scientific texts, enhancing their beauty. Gold leaf also decorated architectural features such as domes, calligraphy, and tiles. The meticulous use of the metal reflected the era's advancements in arts, science, and philosophy, serving as a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds. Similarly, in Medieval Europe, gold served to bridge the earthly and the divine. In Byzantine art, illuminated manuscripts, icons, and altarpieces used gold to evoke heavenly radiance, symbolizing both spiritual purity and eternity.

An R&F Pigment Stick in Iridescent Gold

A Renaissance of Gold

As the Renaissance unfolded and perspectives on the material world shifted, artists began using gold less exclusively as a symbol of spirituality and more as a statement of wealth, luxury, and secular beauty. Gold-gilded frames and luxurious furnishings in Baroque and Rococo art exemplified this shift. However, it was in 19th and early 20th century Europe, especially through the works of artists like Gustav Klimt, that gold took on a new dimension as a symbol of sensuality, modernity, and emotional depth. Klimt, influenced by Byzantine mosaics, used gold leaf to elevate the sensual beauty of his figures, merging tradition with modernism and creating a striking contrast between flesh and metallic luminosity.

Gold's allure continues to captivate contemporary artists who explore its physical and symbolic properties in new ways. In modern art, gold is no longer solely a symbol of wealth or divinity but has come to represent a dialogue between past and present, luxury and decay, and even excess and restraint. It retains its timeless allure, its radiant glow symbolizing a range of meanings across cultures and centuries. Whether used to evoke a sense of the divine, express beauty, or challenge perceptions, it endures as a metal of profound artistic significance.

Through its historical journey, gold remains more than a precious substance—it is a timeless, universal symbol, reflecting humanity’s ceaseless quest for meaning, beauty, and transcendence.