Gold Leaf
Very thin sheets of gold used to cover surfaces in art, making them look shiny and precious.
What is it?
Gold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets. Artists apply it to paintings, frames, and sculptures to create a bright, reflective surface. In Renaissance paintings, gold leaf was often used for halos and backgrounds to show holiness. The painting you captured has a gold background made with gold leaf.
Why it matters
Gold leaf makes art look valuable and sacred. It also shows the skill of the artist in handling delicate materials.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more artworks with gold leaf.