Mural vs. Fresco - is there a difference?
- superficialworks
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
So, what’s the difference between a mural and a fresco? This is a very good question we’re often asked by friends, and something that took us a little while to get our head around at the outset. Let’s break it down a little with some beautiful examples to illustrate the differences, which sometimes are not all that clearcut!
Generally, a ‘mural’ refers to a painting that is done directly onto a surface - usually a wall or ceiling. They can be done on indoor or outdoor surfaces and applied using a range of different methods. Usually a mural is a commissioned planned work and there is a long history of murals in public spaces being sponsored by individuals as well as in public spaces by national and local authorities around the world. Graffiti, whilst at times similar in scale to a mural, differs from a mural in that it has often historically been done without permission - the act of graffiti being its own artistic endeavour informed by its own spontaneous and self-expressive history. Murals can of course be done in a 'graffiti' style.
‘Frescoes’ are also murals, but have a distinct term due to the techniques used to make them. ‘Fresco’ means ‘fresh’ in Italian and the method was widely popularised during the Italian Renaissance, although there is a long history of this ancient method being applied around the world for millennia. The technique involves applying pigment directly onto wet plaster, so that the colour is fixed as part of the wall itself. There are three different types of fresco which have emerged over time - buon affresco (true fresco), mezzo fresco (medium fresco) and fresco secco (dry fresco). Each has its own series of techniques that relate to the level of dryness of the plaster and the medium the pigment is applied with.
Some of our clients like to look to historic frescoes for inspiration, there is so much to draw from when you start to look!