buon fresco

painting

Also known as: true fresco

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Last updated

June 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Buon fresco, meaning "true fresco," is a durable painting technique where water-based pigments are applied to fresh, wet plaster. As the plaster dries, the pigments become an integral part of the wall surface, creating a long-lasting mural. This method requires the artist to work quickly within a specific area called a giornata (a day's work) because mistakes cannot be easily corrected once the plaster sets.123

The process involves applying multiple layers of plaster, with the final layer (intonaco) being the surface for painting. Pigments are diluted with water and brushed onto the wet plaster, allowing them to be absorbed. This technique was perfected during the Italian Renaissance, with famous examples including Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel.132

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painting
Buon fresco
Buon’, or “true,” fresco is the most-durable method of painting murals, since the pigments are completely fused with a damp plaster ground to become an integral part of the wall surface. The stone or brick wall is first prepared with a brown trullisatio…
Read More
Buon’, or “true,” fresco is the most-durable method of painting murals, since the pigments are completely fused with a damp plaster ground to become an integral part of the wall surface. The stone or brick wall is first prepared with a brown trullisatio…
Read More

fresco painting
Buon fresco
Buon, or “true,” fresco is the most durable technique and consists of the following process. Three successive coats of specially prepared plaster, sand, and sometimes marble dust are troweled onto a wall. Each of the first two rough coats is applied and then allowed to…
Read More
Buon, or “true,” fresco is the most durable technique and consists of the following process. Three successive coats of specially prepared plaster, sand, and sometimes marble dust are troweled onto a wall. Each of the first two rough coats is applied and then allowed to…
Read More

art conservation and restoration
Wall paintings
In buon (“true”) fresco, pigments mixed only in water are painted directly onto a freshly prepared layer of damp lime plaster. Pigments are permanently bound to the plaster as a result of a chemical change, as the fresh lime becomes calcium carbonate upon drying. In fresco…
Read More
In buon (“true”) fresco, pigments mixed only in water are painted directly onto a freshly prepared layer of damp lime plaster. Pigments are permanently bound to the plaster as a result of a chemical change, as the fresh lime becomes calcium carbonate upon drying. In fresco…
Read More