Affresco

Definition

An affresco refers to a mural painting technique where pigments are applied onto wet plaster. As the plaster dries, the pigments become embedded in the wall surface, creating a durable artwork.

Related terms

Fresco secco: A variation of affresco where pigments are applied onto dry plaster instead of wet plaster.

Buon fresco: The traditional method of affresco where pigments are applied onto freshly laid wet plaster.

Sgraffito: A decorative technique used in affresco where layers of colored plaster are scratched away to reveal underlying layers or patterns.