The art world is blessed by numerous examples of what's known as a fresco. "Fresco" is a technique of mural painting by which earth pigments are painted directly on fresh, wet, lime plaster. Indeed, the word fresco is derived from the Italian adjective fresco meaning "fresh." The origins of this unique art form can be traced back to antiquity. The most celebrated frescoes, however, were created during the Renaissance era by masters such as Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.
But how exactly did this deceptively simple painting technique evolve, and where can you admire some of history's most famous frescoes? Click through and get in the frame with one of the oldest-known forms of art.