Swanson School of Engineering

One of the most prevalent types of artworks throughout human history is the fresco. Starting in the Minoan civilization and spreading to ancient Egypt and Rome, frescos became integral to art around the world. In fact, frescos are one of the artforms most closely associated with the Italian renaissance. While I always had respect for renaissance artists, I have even more after trying a fresco painting myself. I had assumed that the painting process was comparable to oil paints. However, I was very wrong. Painting on fresh plaster created the unique difficulty of your art crumbling when too saturated. This meant we had to be extra careful about the dilution of our paints and the quantity we applied. Additionally, blending colors using this medium was frustrating process. It seemed that rather than blending, one color would just dominate the region. Overall, I enjoyed the process, but I definitely have much greater respect for the skill required for the famous pieces we see from the Italian renaissance.