The Probert Encyclopaedia of General Information

DISTEMPER

In painting, distemper is a preparation of opaque colour mixed in a watery glue, such as size, eggwhite or gum. It was used chiefly in scene-painting and in paper for walls during the 19th ecntury, but was employed in the higher departments of art before the introduction of oil-painting in the 16th century. Distemper is painted on a dry surface, fresco on wet mortar or plaster.
Research Distemper