I've enjoyed reading your posts as well as Gary's on this subject. And yes, Decorative art on the walls WERE in place of furniture for many buildings since furniture was not as readily available as now.

Also, I always thought that not only the breathability and carbonization add to the "luminosity" of the fresco, but that buon fresco was executed because, at the time most frescoes were painted, natural colour pigments would fade or erode, or deteriorate under climate conditions. That by locking in the colour with the plaster, an artist could assure that their work would stay true and intact. Secco fresco, as beautiful as it is, can deteriorate over time and weather conditions. Am I correct in this? I would like some opinions from others,....)

I do agree that if the "Masters" had the resources we have now for painting all kinds of art, frescoes, faux finishes, etc., ...that they would use what was at their disposal, and worked best for them. Of course, we will always have purists who will use only what is traditional. A good thing since we can learn from them. But we will always have those who use unconventional means as well to obtain great art. After all, Michealangelo was considered a renegade at the time for painting scenes and the human figure in a more fluid way than the stoic approach so popular before him.

that's it for now, I do enjoy these forums, please tell everyone you know about them. There are not many sites I know of such as this.

Ciao
Carter Averbeck
www.TrompeArt.com