Renaissance Discoveries: The Art of Fresco

Fresco painting was the most prestigious artistic medium of the Italian Renaissance. All of the big names in Italian painting, from Giotto in the 1300s to Michelangelo two centuries later, solidified their reputations with masterpieces in fresco. The technique was simple in conception-painting with watercolours on wet plaster-but notoriously difficult in execution. In this video we look at the history and technology of fresco painting, from the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean to Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.

[@stiannobelisto573]

Always loved your books! Hope you will continue to post these excellent videos!!!🙂🙂

[@rossking3163]

Thank you so much. I'm certainly hoping to keep the channel going!

[@Zerotwiceyeah]

love it ! the inclusion of small facts and quotations kept me hooked

[@rossking3163]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed it!

[@claudiascott6654]

laughing and learning-- the best combo. Love these, Ross.

[@tudorarter1527]

Excellent presentation. Much appreciated!

[@rossking3163]

You're very welcome - glad you enjoyed it!

[@alexandraares]

Wonderful. So interesting to rediscover the secrets of the past.

[@rossking3163]

Thank you, Alexandra!

[@tonyfoglio6745]

As always, educational, inspiring, and enjoyable.

[@rossking3163]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it.

[@leemosher5513]

Another outstanding presentation!

[@rossking3163]

Thanks so much!

[@shelf1244]

Your presentations are amazing! Thank You!👌

[@rossking3163]

Thank you! Glad you enjoy them.

[@mikekeogh9910]

Fantastic stuff Dr. King. Have you ever seen frescoing in real life? I imagine it would be quite interesting to see the logical steps in the process. I'm re-reading, for the 5th time, your amazing book on Brunelleschi, risking paper cuts at the pace it moves.

[@rossking3163]

I've met several people who work in fresco, one in Italy and one in the USA - but unfortunately we've never been able to arrange my visit to their scaffolds. But they tell me the technology is very much the same. I've been on scaffolds several times to see restoration work being done on frescoes, including Michelangelo's Crucifixion of St. Peter in the Pauline Chapel in the Vatican. An amazing experience. Thanks for your kind words about Brunelleschi's Dome - still a book very dear to my heart!

[@jasonscott1611]

Hey Ross! What is the book on your shelf just to the left of the copy of Florence that you worked on with Anja Grebe?

[@rossking3163]

Hi Jason - It's The Vatican: All the Paintings, written by Anja Grebe and introduced by ... me. Needless to say, an excellent volume!