Decoration of the Sala del Gigli 1484

This fresco by Domenico Ghirlandaio in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio was made using pigments applied to wet plaster. This centuries-old technique requires speed and precision, as the colours are absorbed into the wall as it dries. Looking closely, you can see how the texture of the plaster influences the final appearance, adding a subtle roughness and depth to the figures. The artist, or more likely his workshop, would have applied layers of different coloured pigments. The process of fresco painting demanded skilled craftsmanship and careful planning, with assistants preparing the plaster and mixing pigments. These methods had been passed down through generations of artisans. Ghirlandaio comes from a family of goldsmiths. The intense blue of the background, for instance, would have been achieved using lapis lazuli, a precious pigment sourced from Afghanistan, reflecting the wealth and power of the patron commissioning the work. Considering the materials and labor involved reveals the social and economic context in which this artwork was produced. It reminds us that even seemingly 'high' art is rooted in processes, materials and skilled traditions, blurring the lines between art and craft.