7.1 Fresco and panel painting techniques

Hellenistic painters mastered fresco and panel techniques, pushing the boundaries of realism and illusion. Buon fresco on wet plaster and secco on dry surfaces allowed for durable murals, while encaustic and tempera mediums brought vibrant colors to wooden panels.

Artists employed sophisticated methods like chiaroscuro and trompe l'oeil to create depth and fool the eye. These techniques, combined with advanced perspective, resulted in immersive artworks that showcased the era's artistic innovation and skill.

Fresco Techniques

Buon Fresco and Secco Fresco Methods

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Top images from around the web for Buon Fresco and Secco Fresco Methods

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  Minoan art - Wikipedia View original

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  The Spring Fresco, from Akrotiri, Thera (Santorini), Minoa… | Flickr View original

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• Buon fresco involves painting on wet plaster allows pigments to bond chemically with the surface
• Artists work quickly before plaster dries creates durable, long-lasting images
• Secco fresco applies paint to dry plaster requires a binding medium (egg yolk or glue)
• Secco technique allows for more detailed work and color corrections after initial painting
• Both methods often used in combination to achieve desired effects in large-scale murals

Preparatory Steps and Execution

• Sinopia refers to preliminary sketch drawn directly on wall with red ochre pigment
• Sketch guides placement of figures and composition for final fresco
• Giornata describes section of plaster applied and painted in single day
• Artists divide large frescoes into manageable giornate to work efficiently
• Intonaco constitutes final smooth layer of plaster applied over rough base coat
• Painters work on intonaco while wet to create buon fresco effect

Panel Painting Techniques

Encaustic and Tempera Mediums

• Encaustic painting uses heated beeswax mixed with pigments creates rich, luminous colors
• Wax medium allows for textured surfaces and can be reworked after drying
• Artists apply encaustic with heated metal tools or brushes for various effects
• Tempera painting employs egg yolk as a binder for pigments produces matte finish
• Tempera dries quickly enables artists to build up layers of color gradually
• Both techniques widely used in Hellenistic panel paintings (Fayum mummy portraits)

Application and Preservation

• Encaustic paintings resist moisture and aging retain vibrancy over long periods
• Artists can incise or sculpt encaustic surfaces for added dimensionality
• Tempera requires careful application in thin layers to prevent cracking
• Wooden panels prepared with gesso provide ideal surface for both techniques
• Encaustic and tempera paintings often varnished for additional protection

Painting Effects

Illusionistic Techniques

• Chiaroscuro employs strong contrasts between light and dark areas creates depth and volume
• Artists use chiaroscuro to model three-dimensional forms on two-dimensional surfaces
• Trompe l'oeil translates to "deceive the eye" creates convincing optical illusions
• Painters use trompe l'oeil to depict objects or scenes that appear to extend beyond the picture plane
• Both techniques demonstrate Hellenistic artists' mastery of realistic representation

Spatial and Compositional Strategies

• Perspective refers to methods of creating illusion of depth and space on flat surface
• Linear perspective uses converging lines to create sense of distance and scale
• Atmospheric perspective depicts distant objects with less detail and cooler colors
• Hellenistic painters combined multiple perspective techniques for complex spatial compositions
• Advanced understanding of perspective allowed for more naturalistic and immersive artworks