frescoes

Fresco is a technique of mural painting in which pigments are applied to freshly laid lime plaster. As the plaster dries and carbonates, the paint bonds with the wall, making frescoes durable and integral to the surface. Frescoes are commonly found on church walls and ceilings, palaces, and public buildings, especially in medieval and Renaissance Italy.

Two principal methods exist: buon fresco and fresco secco. In buon fresco, artists apply pigment to damp plaster (intonaco) after a rough layer (arriccio) has set; the color becomes part of the wall as the plaster chemically bonds. In fresco secco, paint is added to dry plaster, which is less durable and may require binders and retouching to preserve the image.

Fresco painting has ancient roots and achieved its classical form in medieval and Renaissance Europe. Notable examples include Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling, and extensive church cycles across Italy. Roman-era frescoes survive in Pompeii and Herculaneum, illustrating earlier use of the method. The technique spread beyond Italy in later periods and remains a valued historical and artistic tradition.

Preservation is challenging due to moisture, salts, and structural movement. Conservation aims to stabilize plaster, consolidate pigments, and restore legibility without altering the original work. Contemporary artists continue to explore fresco or fresco-inspired techniques, balancing respect for historical methods with new approaches and interpretations.