encarnado

encarnado (Spanish: ‘flesh-coloured’). Term applied in Spanish art to the painting of the flesh parts of wooden sculptures in more or less naturalistic colours. The term ‘estofado’ (literally ‘quilted’) is applied to the painting of draperies. In the 16th century the paint of both flesh and draperies was given a glossy finish, but in the 17th century a matt finish was adopted for greater realism. Such work was sometimes done by distinguished painters as well as by specialist craftsmen—encarnadores and estofadores. For example, Pacheco often painted figures by Montañes. See also polychrome.