Reminiscence

The School of Athens by Raphael (Source: Pinterest ) CONTENTS I. Introduction II. Origin III. Method of Application IV. Techniques or Types of Fresco V. Paintings VI. Famous Examples of Fresco Paintings VII. Decline VIII. References INTRODUCTION Renaissance or the period of ‘rebirth’ in the history of Europe was a time period marked by the revival of classical learning, art, literature, architecture and so on.  One such revival occurred in the field of fresco painting whose origin could be traced back to classical antiquity . The Italian word ‘ al fresco ’ derived its name from the process of fresco painting itself. While the last coat of plaster was freshly laid and still wet, the frescoes were executed upon it and hence took its name from this process.  Several important artistic works of Early and High Renaissance were executed in frescoes. ORIGIN Earlier, frescoes had been featured in Minoan art during the Bronze Age and also in Indian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman art. Th...

By Deepasree Dey It is strange to think that I am part of a culture which dedicates the incantation “Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Shakti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-tasyai Namo Namah” (meaning – to that Devi Who in all beings is abiding in the form of power, salutions to her) while simultaneously laying down in the Manu Smriti that women should be under the surveillance of their fathers in their childhood, their husbands in their youth and if their husbands pass away, they should be under their sons’ control.  It is the same culture in which the embodiment of power is not a god but a goddess however, the ‘ansh’ or part of that goddess – women are considered to be ‘abala’ or powerless.  For ages, this thought has been penned down in popular Bengali literature. Surrounded by the concrete walls and brocade curtains of an oddly romanticized ‘ Andarmahal ’ , women had no voice of their own, there was no depth in their characterization.  The description o...