The view you may admire if you look up entering the entrance hall of the Galeria Borghese. I will not speculate on its size, but the fresco is for sure more than 100 meters big.
ABOUT FRESCOES
The history of fresco painting dates back thousands of years, with early examples found in ancient civilizations like Egypt and Crete. However, it reached its zenith during the Italian Renaissance, with artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael elevating the form to new heights. Fresco painting was popular not only in Italy but also in other parts of Europe and in the world, used in decorating churches, public buildings, and villas, often depicting religious, mythological, or historical scenes.
Frescoes are a form of mural painting on freshly laid, or wet lime plaster, allowing the paint to become an integral part of the wall. The word “fresco,” derived from the Italian “affresco” means “fresh”. As the plaster dries, it reacts with the pigments, resulting in a durable and long-lasting artwork that is uniquely bonded with the wall’s surface. Interestingly, if the painter did not manage to put color onto the plaster before it dried up, the plaster had to be removed and put on once again. This technique was however not suitable as a painting technique for countries where the climate is wet and cold.
When a fresco is painted on wet plaster, the pigments chemically bind with the plaster as it dries. This process, known as carbonatation, involves the lime in the wet plaster reacting with carbon dioxide in the air to form calcium carbonate. The pigments become an integral part of the wall, resulting in a colorfast and long-lasting image. This intrinsic bond between the paint and the plaster means that frescos can endure for centuries, even millennia, with minimal fading or deterioration of the colors. This is why we can today admire ancient frescos, such as those found in the ruins of Pompeii or in Egyptian tombs. while the fresco itself is durable, the surface it’s painted on can be vulnerable. If the wall or ceiling suffers structural damage, the fresco can be compromised. The durability of frescos is also dependent on factors like the environment and the quality of the materials and techniques used
Frescoes were also painted with a technique called fresco secco, where the painting was applied on dry plaster. “Secco” stands in Italian for “dry”. In this technique, the paint merely adheres to the surface rather than becoming an integral part of the wall. On the other hand, fresco secco allowed for greater flexibility and detail in the artwork. Artists could take their time with the painting process, add finer details, and use a wider range of pigments, some of which were not suitable for wet plaster. Fresco secco was often used for retouching or adding details to traditional frescoes, combining the strengths of both methods.
ABOUT GALLERIA BORGHESE
Galleria Borghese is an art museum located within the Villa Borghese Pinciana in Rome (Italy). It is one of the most renowned museums in Rome and houses an extraordinary collection of artworks from various periods. The gallery was originally established by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, a nephew of Pope Paul V, and a prominent art collector, and patron of the arts, in the 17th century. He amassed an extensive collection of sculptures, paintings, and antiquities, which he displayed in his private residence, the Villa Borghese. The collection was later transformed into a public museum in 1903. The Galleria does not look very impressive from the outside. However besides numerous pieces of art, which can be admired inside, the villa is a a real eye-catcher in itself with its richly decorated interiors with among others colorful frescos.
