alla prima

adjective

Without any preparatory layer of colour; with no underpainting.

Similar
wet-on-wet
OriginItalian alla →
First used 19th c.
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Meanings

adjectivealla prima (not comparable)
  1. not comparablepaintingWithout any preparatory layer of colour; with no underpainting.First known use 19th c.

    The application of paint in both compositions shows the use of a layering technique in the flesh tones and garments and the alla prima technique in the background.

    2020, Inken Maria Holubec, “Angelica Kauffman and the Neoclassical Picture”, in Bettina Baumgärtel, editor, Angelica Kauffman, Hirmer, page 33

    Synonyms: wet-on-wet

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveWithout any preparatory layer of colour; with no underpainting.

Similar
wet-on-wet
Also see
wet-on-wet

Origin

  1. Italianalla
  2. Englishalla prima

From Italian alla prima (“at first”).

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

alla prima. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alla%20prima

MLA

“alla prima.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alla%20prima. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “alla prima,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alla%20prima.

Source: alla prima on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.