Fresco, mosaic and stained glass
The manufacturing method determines the color, rhythm and viewing conditions.
Key ideas
Fresco on wet lime plaster binds the paint to the wall as it dries. Work is carried out in sections designed for the available time. The mosaic is made up of individual elements - tesserae; the angle of their surface affects the reflection of light.
Looking deeper
Stained glass works with transmitted light, so it cannot be fully appreciated as an ordinary reproduction on a white background. For all three techniques, distance, lighting and architectural surroundings are important. The image is conceived in conjunction with the space and movement of the viewer.
Frescoes of the Scrovegni Chapel; mosaics of Ravenna; stained glass windows of Chartres.
Find the work in the museum's official catalog and start with a description of the visible details.Compare the image in frontal and side light: what disappears in the photo?
External educational material or museum catalogue. The above review is not a literal translation of the source.