by Andrea daley

Have you ever seen a Fresco? Have you touched a Fresco? What is a Fresco?

Frescos have been around for ever! It was an ancient means of painting. There was no paper.

Art work was done on walls, tombs and statues. Using colors from the earth, mixed with plaster

the artist was able to release his soul and embrace his creations in the external paintings that we,

today refer to as murals. This method of painting became sophisticated and primarily

noted during the middle ages and then reached its popularity during the Renaissance in Italy.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term "fresco ", it means fresh. The artist, after an

exterior wall has been prepared with fresh lime plaster, he/she skillfully executes his/her talent by

mixing dry pigment with water. Quickly, he/she brushes them into damp plaster, creating his/her art

design. Any dried plaster, then must be prepared again to continue the process. The artist

has to layout the design and be well prepared, so he/she can hide and disguise the stops and starts

in the shadows and lines of the art work.

To remove a fresco from its original structure and location, can be inferred by some as a deprivation.

Every caution should be exercised to restore and preserve the original fresco within its own site.

Although, due to circumstances beyond control, the choice of removal may have to be initiated.

The method of detaching dates back to the last decades of the 17th century. Today's methods have

been greatly improved so the artwork can be literally removed, while not disturbing the plaster during

its transfer process. The results are excellent and is an art in itself. So how often do you have the

opportunity to touch, stand next to and admire an original Fresco? Now, this noble art of fresco, has

been revised using the ancient techniques and subjects. One of the companies that represents these

classical Italian frescos is AGS imports out of Naples Florida. These are original frescos, inspired by

the old masters, executed in the traditional technique, signed and then transferred to canvas. To see one

of these exquisite works of art is to be in awe of the beauty, it seems to say " I've been around for a long,

long time, look at me and become one with me; I am your past, embrace me. When the painting is dry,

it is placed on to a canvas on the painted wall using a glue which is soluble in warm water. When dry, the

process of stripping begins (the strappo method). The canvas is stripped off the wall and placed on a

wooden board, then a stronger canvas is applied using a mixture of glue insoluble in water. Twenty four

hours later, the strappo method of the canvas is completed by the removal of the original canvas.

The fresco remains on the second canvas. This technique is called "Calicot". Finally, the fresco is

perfected, aged, placed on a frame and shipped to the customer. If you would like to know more about

this company and process, you can call (914) 261-8807. If you come to our Spring convention, then you will

be able to see/touch a fresco, in person.