Microstructure and Surface Properties of Frescoes Based on Lime and Cement: The Influence of the Artist's Technique

Abstract

International audienceFrescoes are known to be the most durable form of mural painting. The traditional technique, widely used throughout history, consists of applying water-dispersed pigments on a fresh lime plaster, which hardens through a carbonation reaction. At the beginning of the 20th century, Portland cement was used by some mural artists to obtain similar painting plaster. Although involving different setting mechanisms, cement-based frescoes show the same aspect and durability as lime-based frescoes. Using microstructure characterizations of ancient frescoes (lime- or cement-based) and laboratory reconstructions, this paper offers a description of the mechanisms responsible for the adhesion of pigments and the hardening of surface

Analytical study of the XIV century wall painting and lime mortars in the "St. George" church in Staro Nagoričane, Republic of Macedonia

“…Regarding the painting technique, two characteristic features of the cross-sectioned samples were considered as relevant indicators of the used techniques, which are: the nature of the binding medium and the paint adherence to plaster [8][9][10][11].…”

“…2 a-c) indicates painting on dry plaster (lime technique or mezzo-fresco) [9][10][11]. On other hand, the penetration of the pigment grains into the plaster, as is shown in Figure 2d and e, could be ascribed to the thorough carbonation process [8,9] which is typical for a painting on wet plaster (buon fresco) [8][9][10][11]. Moreover, the thin yellow layer located immediately below the superficial layer ( Fig.…”

Petrographic and Chemical Characterization of the Frescoes by Saturnino Gatti (Central Italy, 15th Century)

“…The study of the pictorial cycle in the Church of San Panfilo was conducted through a petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical approach. The investigation aimed to identify the stratigraphy, microstructure, and composition of the plasters [19], paint layers [20], and painting techniques [7,21,22]. The study also explored the presence of compounds possibly related to the alteration processes of the frescoes and their components [23].…”

Increase the Performances of Lime Finishing Mixes Due to Modification with Calcium Silicate Hydrates

“…The demand for lime mixes is slightly lower due to low strength and water resistance [5]. However, lime plaster mixes have a number of advantages: They have good thermal insulation [6] and fireproof [7] properties; environmentally friendly [8]; have good adhesion to wood [9,10], brick [11] and cinder-concrete [12] surfaces; resistant to biological damage due to the high alkalinity of lime [13]; flexible [14] and easy to work with [15]. In addition, they have high vapor permeability [16][17][18], which allows the wall to "breathe" without accumulating condensate [19], thereby contributing to the improvement of the microclimate of the rooms finished with them by regulating the humidity of the environment [20].…”