Hi! The technique that you referring to is "strappo". This method was developed to save the old frescoes from the deterioration caused by floods, other disasters or if the original wall or the building itself was to be demolished. The resque was achieved by transferring frescoes from the original walls onto the canvas support or different wall.

Briefly, it works like this:
A sheet of hessian (canvas) is affixed onto the fresco with water soluble glue. Then the plaster is being loosened and the fresco is literally stripped from its foundation. Resulted canvas with the fresco (skim coat with painting on it) is now glued to it's new support. When the glue dries solvents to desolve the first glue are applied to the canvas, which is then removed leaving the fresco on its new foundation.

Ironically this method was not always used for noble purposes - a few years ago, a gang of thiefs was arrested in China. Those wise guys were stripping the frescoes from the historic cites and selling them to the unscrupulous collectors of the Free World. One of the gang members girlfriend was working in the museum and were providing the leads.

Nowadays it is also used, primarily in Italy, as a method to provide the art market with "lightweight, decorative frescoes". You may find a good school there or in France. However to apply strappo method, at first the real Buon fresco has to be painted and cured, only then it can be transferred onto canvas using strappo method/technique.

Note to all Cafe al Fresco contributors and guests Please post what you know about the strappo (application methods, materials needed, reference material, etc., etc.) in this thread. Not everyone is lucky enough to go and study "strappo" in Italy!

This technique was first used to save damaged frescoes and to restore them. Italian conservators do not use this technique unless it is absolutely necessary to save a work of art. The process is relatively simple, but difficult to execute on large works. Artisans creating modern works in fresco will use this technique to create pieces which may be easily transported from shop to some buyers home$$$$$$$$ If done correctly, the pigment and texture of the fresco will be removed and easily mounted to canvas already affixed to a permanent frame. Some artists will leave the pigment glued to the first canvas and transport it to the frescoes permanent location. It is easier to take a tube with a fresco on a plane than to try to ship large panels. I have removed several large panels and I was lucky to have all come out perfectly...not loosing any paint. Once transferred, areas may be painted using egg and pure pigment. Once the fresco is dry (the glue )a wax is applied to protect the surface. Carefully the wax is applied with a soft cotton rag and a second coat is repeated to ensure all areas are covered. A removed fresco tends to be dry to the touch. Keep the work hung in an area which does not get a lot of light. If you wish to learn this technique write to me at trazom34@hotmail.com . I also can tell you about a technique which allows you to remove the upper layers of the fresco and install on a new surface.

Mozart

The Strappo Fresco Technique

follow this link

http://www.truefresco.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/72.html

I am locking(can read but can't post) this topic since it is absolite.

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Contemporary Fresco Gazette
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