Chemie in der Freskomalerei: Kunst,Computer, Chemie

Prehistoric cave paintings have been conserved for about 15000 to 20000 thousand years. As modern investigations have shown the applied pigments are covered with a surface film of crystallized lime.This is the principle used when fresco‐painting. The pigments are painted on freshly applied, wet lime‐water walls or ceilings. During the process of ripening carbon dioxide is absorbed from atmosphere. Lime mortar is hardening, the pigments dry with the plaster to become a permanent part of brickwork. Though fresco buono (= true fresco)is the most durable technique it depends sensitively on processes of acid‐base‐equilibria. Thus, fresco‐paintings are „in dialogue”︁ with environmental conditions for all times. The physico‐chemical principles of fresco‐painting are discussed and demonstrated.