>Hi,
>I am considering restoring two paintings of
>roman ruins that I think are fresco but they
>have a glossy finish so I am not sure. Under the
>finish it looks as if the pigments soaked into
>the painting as the artist worked. So that makes
>me think they are fresco. I know this because
>the painting broke during shipment to me. (Boo
>hoo hoo hoo.... eh hem. Sniff.) The one is dated
>1796 and signed Anten Kopp?et?. Signed. Dated.
> Boo hoo hoo hoo.....etc...etc. Enough. Life
>must go on.

If you let us know how/where you have accuired the paintings it would help to determine if they are frescoes or not.
Clossy finish may account to wax which is used somtimes over fresco, however there is a lot of "fresco mimiking" going around.

>
>Should I even attempt to restore these? If so,
>what kiind of plaster type material should I
>fill the cracks with?

For real fresco you would use lime plaster and earth pigments

>Then, of course, there is
>the matter of matching pigments. Any advice on
>where I should start reading up?

check "Storing Pigments" topic here and
http://truefresco.com/technique