Sophia Fresco
True (buon) frescoes of St. Anasthasius and Sophia.
St. Athanasius (1307). The original fresco is located in the church of Our Lady Ljeviska in Prizren, built by King Milutin in 1307 on the foundations of an old basilica. During the Turkish rule the church was converted into a mosque and the frescoes covered with whitewash. They were first restored during the years of 1949-1953.
True (buon) fresco—the oldest and most celebrated painting technique—is painting with natural pigments on wet plaster. Paints are prepared from minerals and various clays. Plaster is made of slaked lime (calcium hydrate) and sand. As wet plaster cures a natural reaction occurs permanently embedding pigments into the cured plaster. This artwork is created using true centuries-old fresco techniques and materials.
Unlike faux finishes and fresco imitations, true (buon) frescoes create a unique feeling of authenticity, depth and richness of the artwork. The frescoes can be applied in traditional or contemporary settings: from genuine buon fresco fragments that are aged and worn to match period and style of selected era, to full-sized wall or ceiling frescos whether aged and stylized or fresh and new.
Photo credit: Anatoly Valushkin