The Technique of Fresco Painting: A Mural's Journey, 1936

Witness the art of fresco painting through this silent educational film from 1936, set in Evander Childs High School, New York City. The footage details students crafting a mural that narrates the history of Western civilization. Reel 1 shows the preparation of materials such as slaked lime, marble dust, and pigments, followed by the creation of preliminary and full-size drawings, and the making of perforated tracings. These tracings are then used to transfer the design onto a freshly plastered wall. In Reel 2, the process continues with the intensification of design lines, application of pigments, and the drying process, culminating in the reveal of the completed mural, showcasing the traditional fresco technique.