A wall painting technique where water-based pigments are applied to freshly laid wet lime plaster, causing the paint to chemically bond with the wall as the plaster dries. The method creates extremely durable murals that become part of the wall structure.
From Italian meaning 'good fresco' or 'true fresco,' distinguishing it from fresco secco (dry fresco). The technique was perfected during the Italian Renaissance, with the 'buon' emphasizing the superior durability achieved through proper chemical bonding.
Buon fresco is painting against time - artists had to complete each section while the plaster was still wet, usually within 8-12 hours, or start over completely! Michelangelo painted the entire Sistine Chapel ceiling this way, lying on his back and racing against drying plaster, which explains why every brushstroke had to be perfect the first time.
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