fresco
/ˈfres.kəʊ/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A picture or design painted on wet plaster, so the color becomes part of the wall as it dries. This technique is often used on ceilings and walls in old buildings.
- The church has a famous Renaissance fresco.
- The artist studied ancient fresco techniques.
- We saw faded frescoes on the palace walls.
verb
To paint on wet plaster using the fresco method. This is a specialist art term, used mainly in art history and restoration.
- They frescoed the chapel ceiling.
- The team frescoed the wall last summer.
- He frescoes in the traditional style.
Adinary Nuance
A fresco is not just any wall painting. It is made on wet plaster, so it becomes part of the wall itself. Use mural for a general wall painting, and fresco when the technique matters. In art history, fresco sounds more precise and specialist than mural.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tranh tường
- Spanish
- fresco
- Chinese
- 湿壁画
- Japanese
- フレスコ画
- Korean
- 프레스코화
Etymology
From Italian fresco, meaning "fresh," from Latin frescus. The name comes from the fact that the plaster must be fresh and wet when the painting is made.
Common phrases
a wall frescoa ceiling frescoRenaissance frescofresco painting
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a fresco and a mural?
- A mural is any large painting on a wall. A fresco is painted on wet plaster.
- Is fresco a common everyday word?
- No, it is mostly used in art, architecture, and history.
- Can I use fresco in business or academic writing?
- Yes, if you are writing about art, heritage, or restoration.
- How do I use fresco in a sentence?
- Say: "The museum restored the old fresco carefully."