fresco-secco
/ˌfrɛskəʊ ˈsɛkəʊ/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A wall-painting method where paint is applied on dry plaster. Artists use it after the plaster has fully dried. It is less permanent than true fresco.
- The mural was painted in fresco-secco.
- This wall uses fresco-secco, not true fresco.
- Some of the colour has faded from the fresco-secco.
Adinary Nuance
Fresco-secco is more exact than just fresco. Use fresco when the painting is done on wet plaster, and fresco-secco when it is done on dry plaster. It is a technical art term, so writers use it in art history, museum notes, and restoration work.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tranh tường khô
- Spanish
- fresco seco
- Chinese
- 干壁画
- Japanese
- 乾式フレスコ
- Korean
- 건식 프레스코
Etymology
From Italian fresco secco, meaning "dry fresco." The term entered English in art history writing to name a technique used after plaster dries.
Common phrases
paint in fresco-seccofresco-secco techniquefresco-secco mural
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between fresco and fresco-secco?
- Fresco is painted on wet plaster. Fresco-secco is painted on dry plaster.
- Is fresco-secco a common word?
- No, it is a specialist art-history term. You usually see it in books, museums, or restoration work.
- Can I use fresco-secco in everyday English?
- Usually no. It sounds technical and is mainly used when discussing art methods.