December 2005 Archives

The murals Diego Rivera executed for the National Institute of Cardiology in Mexico City (figures 1 and 2) are a testament to his talents as a painter as well as to his prodigious energy. The History of Cardiology consists of two panels of 6 m by 4 m and were completed in time for the inauguration of the new institute building on 18 April 1944.

Rivera is the 20th century's greatest exponent of fresco painting. A bravura example of his virtuosity can be found at the bottom right of the first panel, near where he signed the work. The 16th century anatomist Andreas Vesalius holds in his bloodied hand a human heart, its surface mottled and glistening, having been dissected from the pallid cadaver whose head appears to jut into our space. Confronting the viewer almost at eye level with this gory trompe l'oeil spectacle, Rivera has pulled off a real heart stopper...

Fresco Mortar or Plaster is made of high calcium lime putty and "aggregate" which, most commonly is washed river sand, marble meal, volcanic tuff or the combination of it. The proportion of the mortar or plaster mix generally is:

1 part lime putty : 2 parts aggregate (sand)

or

5 parts lime putty : 8 parts aggregate (sand)

Washed River Sand is the best aggregate for making a fresco plaster, it is clean from impurities such as silica, dust, clay, oranic particles, and the biggest enemy of all plasters - SALTs. This sand is also most likely to be of a right angular shape needed for "proper interlocking".

Traditionally there are five distinctive fresco plaster coats (from last to first):

more at:

Fresco-Techniques.com

The fresco, by Guido Reni, dates from 1599

A rare 16th Century Italian fresco has been restored to its original appearance after being painted over more than 150 years ago.

The Separation of Night and Day, painted by Guido Reni in 1599, will go on display at the National Trust's Kingston Lacy mansion, in Dorset.

Restorers have removed oil paint that was put over the work when removed from its original home in Italy.

(from BBC News)

Gian Singh Naqqash, who painted the interiors of the Golden Temple, died in poverty but four generations after him have nevertheless devoted themselves to
embellishing Sikh art, writes Varinder Walia

Imagine a revered Sikh naqqash, who painted frescos on the walls of the Harmander Sahib, including the dome of the structure with indigenously prepared colours for more than three decades, died in penury in 1953 at the age of 70. He was then selling clay toys painted with the same brush.