Fresco painting is an ancient art form that dates back to the Minoans and Egyptians and is one of the oldest styles of painting still in use today. A fresco is an artwork created directly onto a wall or ceiling, where the paint is blended with the plaster while still wet. This technique creates an artwork that then becomes an integral part of the wall or ceiling plaster. The fresh lime plaster provides a breathable wall surface that helps regulate temperatures inside a building, while also providing a canvas that allows pigments and water an opportunity to mix and interact. The creation of a fresco usually begins with creating several layers of plaster. The first course is approximately seven mm thick and made of coarse sand and fine gravel, so that the paint and water is absorbed more slowly. Subsequent layers of plaster will become smoother with more detail. Frescos typically feature bright jewel-tone pigments, created from natural minerals, metals, and clays. The vibrant colors are achieved from the fresco’s plastered surface, which absorbs the pigments in a unique way. These pigments, when combined with the directness of the painting onto the walls, create an illuminated look that cannot be replicated on canvas or other art surfaces. While frescos have many applications from decoration and memorials to storytelling and propaganda, their physicality, immediacy, and durability are what make them such a special art form.