History of Venetian Plaster

A marble-like plaster finish appeared in Venice in the 15th century.

The use of plaster dates back 9,000 years to ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Egyptians mixed gypsum with water to fill construction joints in pyramids. Over centuries, the addition of limestone, glues and resins to the mix yielded a marble-like plaster.

Blood Red

The origins of Venetian plaster intertwine with a variety of developments in architectural technology. For example, a city in India was nicknamed "The Pink City" when blood was added as a pigment to plaster and spread over the walls of the city.

Not Fresco

Artisans in Pompei experimented with a decorative technique called fresco, covering rough plaster walls with color and art. Venetian plaster, however, contains rich colored limestone substances within the plaster that the artisan layers onto a wall. Meticulous burnishing creates a smooth, polished finish.

Venice

Ancient Romans blended limestone with silica to develop a substance that could harden under water. It wasn't until the 15th century, however, when Venetians began using Marmarimo, a wall finish that looked like marble without the weight of the stone.

References

• Association of Life Casters International: A Brief History of Plaster and Gypsum
• Life in Italy: Italian Art: Venetian Plaster

Resources

• Firenzecolor: Artist Brings Color to the Valley