craquelure

American  

[krak-loor, krak-loor, krak^uh-lyr] / krækˈlʊər, ˈkræk lʊər, krakəˈlür /

noun

plural

craquelures

1. a network of fine cracks or crackles on the surface of a painting, caused chiefly by shrinkage of paint film or varnish.

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craquelure British  

/ ˈkrækəlʊə /

noun

1. a network of fine cracks on old paintings caused by the deterioration of pigment or varnish

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Etymology

Origin of craquelure

First recorded in 1910–15; < French, equivalent to craquel(er) “to crackle, crack” (imitative) + -ure -ure

Example Sentences

At Pearl Lam, the delicate craquelure of the monochrome panels by Su Xiaobai connects them to historic painting and celadon pottery.

From The Wall Street Journal

He compared the painting with photographs of the many cracks, or craquelure, in the original.

From Literature

A gifted forger can copy a painting, but he cannot copy a craquelure.

From Literature

Like a fingerprint, every craquelure is unique.

From Literature

In the Debussy, their often haunting approach fractures the lines in the first movement ever so slightly, like the spider-web craquelure in the varnish of an old master painting; their Stravinsky exudes good-natured, unaffected, unexaggerated warmth.

From New York Times