Definition of Fresco (Art)

The painting al fresco is one that is made on a rustic surface, also called arricio. The name fresco painting comes from the language Italian, specifically from the word affresco.

The pictorial technique predates the birth of Christ and is basically the following: a mass of lime is created pure sand on a wall and the artist paints his work when the surface of the wall is still fresh.

Technical aspects

This type of painting is associated with a procedure of a great complexity technique, as it is necessary to carry out all kinds of preparations, such as conditioning the wall surface, applying layers of lime of different thickness, wetting the wall with water or drawing a design initial. In specialized language, several terms are used, such as trusilar, arriciato and intonaco (each of them refers to an aspect of the preparation of the wall on which it is to be painted).

In most works with this technique, the artist uses a reduced range of colors, as it must be taken into account that certain tones cannot be combined with lime.

For the colors to be applied correctly on the wetted wall it is necessary for the artist to work with speed, safety and with a great technical mastery. On the other hand, painters should take into account that the intensity of the color decreases when the lime dries.

Before painting on lime, painters usually create a He drew on cardboard or life-size wood and then placed on the wall to trace the drawing.

The frescoes of the Sistine Chapel

Fresco painting originates from the Minoan culture of ancient Greece. This technique was recovered during the Renaissance, in a very special way in Italy.

The frescoes in the vault of the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo Buonarroti are probably the most recognized in the history of universal art. The Italian artist began this task in 1508 alone on a commission from Pope Julius ll and completed his work four years later.

The frescoes have spectacular dimensions (36 meters long and 13 meters wide, which is equivalent to an area of ​​more than 500 square meters). All his creations in the Sistine Chapel are related to biblical accounts collected in the book from Genesis.

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