Swanson School of Engineering

One thing that has really sparked my interests recently is the process of frescos and their carbonation process. Through my recent studies and opportunity to paint my own fresco, I have really begun to understand the process. It starts with fresh plaster from calcium hydroxide reacting with atmospheric CO2 to form calcium carbonate. Through this process, the plaster is essentially re-mineralizing back into stone, reversing the lime burning process that was done to create the inital material. This process not only removes CO2 from the atmosphere but also locks the pigments from the paints into the durable stone. Through the fresco workshop, being able to witness this process and taking on the challenge of painting a small fresco, I was really able to finally understand the process. It also gave me respect for the great fresco painters during the renaissance as they produced beautiful paintings despite the challenges of frescos.