History of Venetian Plaster

Blood Red

• The origins of Venetian plaster intertwine with a variety of developments in architectural technology. For example, a city in India was nicknamed "The Pink City" when blood was added as a pigment to plaster and spread over the walls of the city.

Not Fresco

• Artisans in Pompei experimented with a decorative technique called fresco, covering rough plaster walls with color and art. Venetian plaster, however, contains rich colored limestone substances within the plaster that the artisan layers onto a wall. Meticulous burnishing creates a smooth, polished finish.

Venice

• Ancient Romans blended limestone with silica to develop a substance that could harden under water. It wasn't until the 15th century, however, when Venetians began using Marmarimo, a wall finish that looked like marble without the weight of the stone.