Madonna

The term fresco is used to indicate a type of wall painting made with colored, mixed or water pigments, which are spread on a fresh layer of plaster using lime as white. The plaster is formed of two layers: the arricciato, or plaster work and the tonachino, or top plaster. The first one is placed directly onto the support wall and it is formed of one part of lime and two parts of sand. The second one is made of a mixture of lime and finer sand. The whole scene to be painted is outlined on the plaster work. The top plaster needs to remain damp while being worked on. The painter generally applies the damp plaster only to the area she can paint in the day. The fresco technique requires specialization and the ability to paint in a self assured and rapid manner. Slow progress and corrections are just not possible.

Saint Michael

©Susanna Chavez, 2007, all rights reserved