How frescoes were made during the Italian Renaissance is nothing short of remarkable. Artists like Giotto, Raphael, and Michelangelo mastered a demanding technique that fused science and artistry, creating works that still inspire awe today. I think once you understand how frescoes were created, you’ll see these masterpieces in a whole new light.
This post contains affiliate links that help keep this website running. By purchasing through our links, we make a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you for your support!
Preparing the Wall
The process of fresco painting began long before a single brushstroke. The wall had to be stable, smooth, and uniform. To achieve this, assistants spread a rough base coat of plaster made from hydrated lime and river sand, known as the arriccio. This layer set the stage for everything to come.
The Secret of Slaked Lime
The heart of fresco painting lies in slaked lime, made through a fascinating chemical process. Craftsmen fired river pebbles rich in calcium carbonate at around 900°C, which transformed them into quicklime. If they didn’t treat the quicklime, it burned the pigments, so they soaked it in water for months—sometimes even years—until it turned into a soft, creamy paste. When mixed with sand, this slaked lime created the smooth plaster that gave frescoes their incredible durability.
Painting on Fresh Plaster
The key to frescoes was painting on damp plaster, a method called buon fresco or “true fresco.” Artists applied mineral-based pigments, dissolved in water, directly onto wet plaster. As the surface dried, the colors fused into the wall itself. This natural chemical bond is why frescoes, unlike paintings on canvas or wood, can endure the test of time and remain luminous for centuries.
A Race Against Time
The technique wasn’t easy. Artists had only a few hours to work on freshly applied plaster before it hardened. Each day, they painted in sections called giornate, or “a day’s work.” Careful planning was crucial. If you study Renaissance frescoes closely, you can sometimes see the subtle joins where one day’s work ended and the next began.
See It For Yourself
We are big supporters of public television. This video, done by NOVA, that I thought was quite good, shows exactly how a fresco is created:
Not Just Paintings Found Indoors
Just to be clear, frescoes are not just found in the interiors of churches, monasteries, etc. Frescoes, remember, are the technique used to paint. It is very common to find a fresco on the exterior of a building, as seen below. You never know where you will find one!
From Sketch to Masterpiece
Artists rarely approached frescoes without a guide. They sketched the composition with charcoal or used a red pigment called sinopia. Some created detailed full-size drawings, called cartoons, and transferred them onto the wall by pricking tiny holes along the outlines and dusting charcoal powder through them. These outlines acted like a roadmap, ensuring precision when time was tight.
Famous Frescoes to Know
To truly appreciate the skill behind frescoes, it helps to look at some of the most celebrated examples in Italy:
- Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel in Padua – Painted around 1305, these frescoes tell the story of the Virgin Mary and Christ with an emotional depth that was revolutionary for its time. Giotto’s work marked a turning point from medieval art to the Renaissance style we recognize today.
- Raphael’s Rooms in the Vatican – Known as the Stanze di Raffaello, these frescoes include The School of Athens, one of the Renaissance’s most iconic images. Raphael filled the walls with philosophers, artists, and thinkers, blending harmony, perspective, and stunning detail.
- Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Ceiling in Rome – Perhaps the most famous frescoes in the world, painted between 1508 and 1512. Michelangelo worked under immense pressure, lying on scaffolding high above the chapel floor, painting vast scenes of Creation, prophets, and sibyls. Later, he returned to the same chapel to paint The Last Judgment on the altar wall, another monumental fresco.
These masterpieces not only showcase the brilliance of the technique but also reveal the stamina, planning, and genius required to complete them.
Why Frescoes Endure
The durability of frescoes lies in their chemistry. Because the pigments are absorbed into the plaster, the colors don’t simply sit on the surface—they become part of the wall itself. This is why, despite centuries of exposure, many frescoes still glow with incredible vibrancy. Restoration helps maintain them, but their survival is proof of the power of the technique.
Editor’s Note: This post was initially published in 2016, and revised in June 2018. Recently updated in August 2025 for accuracy and additional information.
