Paint applied to a painting over already dry areas. Sometimes used to include the original artist's glazes and scumbles; sometimes, especially in conservation, used to mean only later restorers' work. Similar to inpainting, which only fills in lost areas without covering original paint.

Restoration requiring in painting where the restorer does not have skill enough to retouch within the damage area alone without having to extend the restored area substantially beyond the boundaries defined by the damage.

The final layer of paint used to complete a painting, applied over the underpainting when it is dry.

Overpainting by definition must be done over some type of underpainting, in a system of working in layers. If the underpainting is like a base rhythm in music, then the overpainting is like the solo. The underpainting gives a context in which the paint-strokes of the overpainting become more resonant and powerful.