Fresco

/ˈfres.koʊ/ noun

Definition

A fresco is a painting done on fresh, wet plaster on a wall or ceiling, so the colors become part of the surface as it dries. It is an ancient technique used in many famous murals.

Etymology

From Italian “fresco” meaning “fresh,” referring to the fresh plaster used in the technique. The method goes back to ancient Roman and Renaissance art.

Kelly Says

Fresco painters have to work fast—the plaster is literally drying under their brush, so each day’s work is a ‘giornata’ (a day’s section). That’s why huge frescoes are like time maps: you can sometimes see where each day’s effort ended.

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