A wall painting technique where pigments mixed with a binding agent are applied to dry plaster or other prepared surfaces. Unlike true fresco, secco allows for corrections and detail work but is less durable over time.
From Italian meaning 'dry,' referring to the dry plaster surface on which the paint is applied. The technique was often used in combination with buon fresco for adding fine details or making corrections to fresco work.
Secco was the Renaissance artist's way of cheating time - when they ran out of working time for buon fresco or needed to add intricate details, they could switch to secco and work at a more leisurely pace! Many famous frescoes are actually combinations of both techniques, with the main composition in true fresco and the finishing touches added in secco.
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