St. Augustine at the University of Carthage 1465

Benozzo Gozzoli made this fresco of St. Augustine at the University of Carthage here in San Gimignano, sometime in the mid-fifteenth century. The technique of fresco means painting directly onto wet plaster, which is a labor-intensive process requiring careful planning and execution. Gozzoli would have worked with assistants to prepare the wall surface, mixing lime and sand to create the plaster, applying it in sections, and then painting quickly before it dried. Notice how the pigment becomes part of the wall itself, creating a matte surface that mutes the colors. The use of fresco in a church setting is significant. It was a medium accessible to a wide audience, and the imagery served as a visual teaching tool. This wasn't just about artistic skill; it was about communicating religious ideas to the masses, emphasizing the importance of craft and making in shaping cultural understanding. The very act of creating the fresco was a form of devotion, a skilled craft serving a spiritual purpose.