Venetian Plasters are popular choices for both home and business owners who want their walls to look elegant and appealing. However, few people are aware of how Venetian plasters came to be invented and the historical context behind them. Thus, this post seeks to provide a concise review of the origins of the famed Venetian plasters.
What are Venetian Plasters?
Venetian plasters refer to a type of plaster that combines limestone with numerous other materials, and then, mixed with some dye pigment/coloring. Then, this mixture will be applied over walls and left to dry. Then, after some time, reapplied over one another for up to six to seven layers to achieve its final, polished appearance.
History of Venetian Plaster
Although some historians argue that the technique and formula for developing Venetian plasters were already discovered by the Mesopotamians since the beginning of their civilization, it is more widely conceived that Venetian plasters were first popularized by the Romans when during the ages when the Rome Empire flourished. The methods which the Romans had employed does not deviate largely from what we’re doing currently in the modern ages; they used limestone (sometimes referred to as either “slaked lime” or “calcium carbonate”) as their main component, mixed with some marble dust, and applied it over their walls, whether in auditoriums, cathedrals or other buildings.
Following the Roman Empire, the next notable reoccurrence of Venetian buildings was found around the Middle Ages, approximately around the 13th to 14th century. The Venetian plasters could be found across Europe, where they were predominantly used and applied on the exteriors of their buildings. By the mid-14th century, the technique and formulation of Venetian plasters could be seen to decorate the exterior of many different buildings in England.
Following the Middle Ages came the Renaissance, in particular the Italian Renaissance, where Venetian plasters peaked in their usage and popularity. Architects and artisans alike widely used applied Venetian plasters not only on the exterior of their buildings but also on the interiors of their buildings. Some sources suggest that the ages of the Italian Renaissance were one of the first in history to normalize applying Venetian plasters on the interiors of their buildings.
It is largely around the era of Renaissance where Venetian plasters were developed and refined exponentially. In fact, it was used so widely that different styles of Venetian plastering were sprouted during the Renaissance, and among them, one stood out from the rest: the Marmorino.
The discovery and application of Marmorino on Venetian buildings were largely credited to the celebrated architect, Andrea Palladio. Around the late 15th century, Palladio began using Marmorino all around Venice, and especially around the exteriors of buildings, where it was fully visible to the public. His works using the Marmorino could be found scattered throughout the Veneto region.
Thus, it can be understood that although the Venetian plasters were not (strictly) invented by the Italians per se, it was heavily used during their Renaissance period and that it was Veneto region which popularized the Venetian plasters on a global scale. It is safe to say that without the contributions of numerous gifted Italian architects, the Venetian plasters wouldn’t have reached their level of sophistication and popularity. Hence, it is only appropriate that the Venetian plasters were named after the group of people who uplifted its reputation.
From thereon, many more variations of the Venetian plasters began to make their way around the world, such as the Travertino, Intonachino, and the Stucco Veneziano. Gradually, there became an increase in demand for Venetian plastering, for both exteriors and interiors.
One other remarkable instance where Venetian plasters and their similar technique was applied can be found in Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, where the ceiling was treated with Fresco, a method of plastering that was derived and inspired by the Venetian plasters and is primarily used for mural painting and illustrations.
From thereon, Venetian plasters became so deeply rooted in our culture and remained so influential in the architectural realm that we are still employing the techniques of Venetian plastering even today. Regardless of whether it’s our homes, offices, or any buildings, traces of Venetian plasters could be detected all over the world!
Conclusion
Perhaps the most attractive part of the Venetian plasters is that, even throughout such a long time and undergoing so many different generations, the core material and procedure remains largely unaffected, making it shrouded with classic artistical elements and historical value. Thus, it is entirely true that your walls could resemble one that is built thousands of years ago in the city of Venice!
For more information, contact Extreme Paintings via e-mail (contact@extremepaintingwi.com) or phone (608-358-1975)!
