Fresco Workshop

Fresco (literally fresh, in Italian) is the revered art of painting on fast-drying damp plaster with water based pigments. During the Renaissance, fresco painting was considered the true test of an artist's skill, since one had to finish before the plaster dried in order to ensure the adhesion of the image to the wall, allowing for only truly skilled artists to create beautiful and harmonious frescoes. First employed in the 11th and 12th centuries as a means of simple decoration in churches, modern fresco painting soon grew into the medium of choice, mirroring the major artistic developments of the Renaissance. Major fresco works such as Giotto's Bardi Chapel in Santa Croce, Masaccio's Trinity in Santa Maria Novella, and Michelangelo's masterful Sistine Chapel in Rome demonstrate the importance of fresco in the history of art, and particularly in the history of Renaissance art.

Hands-on workshop in the artist's studio

Context Florence's three-hour fresco workshop provides a hands-on experience of the materials and technique of fresco painting. The session begins with a visit to the studio of our docent, an accomplished fresco artist, and a brief lecture/overview of fresco. We are then guided through the steps of preparing a surface, drawing and transfering a drawing (cartoon), and finally applying the paint. At end, participants take home their own fresco. Since the proper materials are critical to fresco, much attention will be paid to the traditions and conditions of fresco making.

The primary objective of this workshop is to explore first-hand the art of fresco painting by using the same materials and techniques of the Renaissance masters. Our docent's method of combining art historical knowledge with artistic practice provides for a unique educational and entertaining experience for travelers of all ages.

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