This book has been written for the painter in fresco, who wishes to acquire enough knowledge of the craft to enable him to supervise, guide and efficiently work with the craftsmen plasterers who are put in charge of the preparation of his materials and wall and who will assist him as the finishing plasterers throughout the period of painting. It should be remembered that the surface of the so-called “Intonaco,” must yield the best possible working conditions, giving the painter the longest possible time to execute the part of the wall intended for a day’s work. In order that such a condition should prevail, a thorough knowledge of the materials used in the practice of fresco painting must be acquired through the practical utilization of a series of operations to obtain necessary ultimate results. Stress is, therefore, laid upon the fact that the painter himself must guide and guard the preparation of his materials and the different layers of mortar which build up the fresco ground, the foundation for the painting. Also, if he is not prepared himself to do the work, he must be able to give final full directions for the “Intonaco” or painting surface, the richness of the mixing and its perfect application which in itself requires experienced handling of tools in the piece-meal plastering of the wall, all of which is the groundwork for the actual painting. This HANDBOOK, therefore, will endeavor to explain the practice of fresco and fresco-secco painting in connection and collaboration with the trade from which it was derived — the building trade.

In this book, based on the proceedings of a two-day workshop on experimental archaeology at the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens in 2017, scholars, artists and craftspeople explore how people in the past made things, used and discarded them, from prehistory to the Middle Ages.

An in-depth guide with step-by-step instructions on how to select, mix and apply lime- and clay- based plasters, renders, paints and washes. With the increasing awareness of eco-building techniques alongside the desire to make our homes healthier, the historical benefits of using natural renders and paints are being rediscovered. Clay and Lime Renders, Plasters and Paints is a detailed guide to the selection, mixing and application of lime- and clay-based plasters, renders, paints and washes. It provides step-by-step instructions for applying lime- and clay-based plasters, renders and paints, and information on the benefits of natural finishes for personal health, the environment, and for buildings. The book draws on traditional methods & materials for using lime & clay finishes on new and historic buildings, and also includes a comprehensive and up-to-date online resource guide to suppliers, practitioners and courses. Easy to follow DIY projects guide the reader through all aspects of using these natural finishes, with beautiful photographs of techniques and examples from the UK and abroad.

This book provides the first comprehensive overview of the techniques and materials used in a range of monumental paintings from the Late Classical to the Graeco-Roman period reflecting the Hellenistic culture. Based primarily on the technical examination and analyses of wall paintings, painted architectural elements and marble monuments, the scientific study of materials provides information on the chemical composition of the plasters, the nature of pigments and their microstructure and identifies patterns of trade and methods of manufacture (if synthesised). The results suggest a highly developed and cosmopolitan culture, encompassing the entire Mediterranean region and beyond, from the mountains of Macedonia to the deserts of Ptolemaic Egypt and the Eurasian Plateau, throughout which ideas and goods flowed freely.