The art of Scagliola
In the crypt of the sadly empty Borromini church in Rome, I came across an exquisite example of Scagliola. This is a technique using plaster, pigment and glue, essentially to imitate marble .Although good practitioners could imitate any marble great Scagliola has a beauty of its own. This example in Sant Carlo is such a case. A solid block of black plaster with floral designs cut and back filled with various coloured Scagliola and polished. Absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately there was no information as to who had made it, another example of the working peoples' lost heritage.
A close up view of the Scagliola note the beautiful simple design and colouring . Over the next couple of weeks if I get time I will produce an example panel of this wonderful technique.
Ceiling of the Church of San Carlo designed by Borromini one of the first and finest Baroque churches in Rome
Note the hand run plaster ceiling panels.The making of these features is rarely explained it seems there is little interest in process although I feel this is perhaps a bit of an oversight since it surely makes the architecture more widely accessible
Below is a small example of simple plaster moulding The skill of the crafts people of that time is truly breathtaking
Note the hand run plaster ceiling panels.The making of these features is rarely explained it seems there is little interest in process although I feel this is perhaps a bit of an oversight since it surely makes the architecture more widely accessible
Below is a small example of simple plaster moulding The skill of the crafts people of that time is truly breathtaking