Thanks for all of the information,Ilia. It is very appreciated. I will start reading up.

I have been e-mailing the woman who sold me the frescos and she says she bought them at an estate sale years ago and that they told her the paintings were shipped from overseas. Who knows how accurate her word is. Not that I doubt her, it's just that these were an e-bay purchase and you know how those can go! She didn't realize the paintings were signed or dated, but in her defence, the signatures are very small. It's almost as if the artist painted over the final coat of sealer (wax? resin?) and painted on all this detail in very fine lines. He outlined every leaf and stone. The substance he used to outline did not soak into the plaster like the blue of the sky or the brown of the dirt. It is very hard to explain. Could I send you an e-mail with photos attached?

Mary Beth