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How are wall paintings different from murals painted on canvas and attached to walls?
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Mural
Detail of Religion, mural in lunette from the Family and Education series by Charles Sprague Pearce, 1897; in the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C.
Strictly speaking, "wall paintings" and murals painted on canvas are distinguished by their relationship to the architectural support.
- Wall Paintings: These are executed directly onto primary wall surfacesâsuch as plaster, masonry, concrete, or stoneâmaking them integral to the architecture in both a material and aesthetic sense. Because they are part of the building fabric, their conservation often involves managing the surrounding environment, such as moisture levels and structural integrity.1
- Murals on Canvas: These are often created in an artistâs studio and later transported to the site. They can be stretched over a wooden framework or attached directly to a wall using an adhesive, a process known as marouflage. While they are considered "mural paintings" in a broader sense, they lack the organic, site-specific connection to the wall's primary structure.213
From a practical standpoint, painting on canvas offered artists greater convenience, allowing work to be completed off-site. However, oil paint on canvas is often considered less satisfactory for murals than traditional techniques like fresco, as it is prone to rapid deterioration, lacks the brilliance of other mediums, and is susceptible to yellowing.2