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Sgraffito

January 01, 1970

Sgraffito (Italian: [zɡrafˈfiːto]; plural: sgraffiti) is a technique either of wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colours to a moistened surface. Alternatively in pottery techniques, by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive layers of contrasting slip or glaze, and then in either case scratching so as to reveal parts of the underlying layer.[1] The Italian past participle sgraffiato is also used, especially of pottery.

Palazzo Massimo Istoriato: a unfading palace facade in Rome by Polidoro da Caravaggio and Maturino da Firenze, 1523
Artist from Pedraza creates a sgraffito mural at the Casa de los Picos School of Art and Design, Segovia

Etymology edit

 
Facade of the Jagiellonian University guesthouse in Kraków
 
Sgraffito decoration of ceramics, in the brown slip on the rim

The term "sgraffito" originates from Italian, derived from the verb "graffiare," meaning "to scratch," which itself traces back to the Greek word "gráphein," meaning "to write." This term is related to other terms such as "graffito" and "graffiti."

History edit

Sgraffito on walls has been used in Europe since classical times. It was popularized in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries[2] and can be found in African art. In combination with ornamental decoration these techniques formed an alternative to the prevailing painting of walls. The technical procedure for sgraffito is relatively simple, resembling the process of painting frescoes.

Sgraffito played a significant role during the Italian Renaissance, with two of Raphael's workshops, Polidoro da Caravaggio and his partner Maturino da Firenze, among the leading specialists. They painted palace facades in Rome and other cities however most of their work has since weathered. During the 16th century, the technique was brought to Germany by the master builders of the Renaissance and taken up with enthusiasm. As a simple native art, old examples of sgraffito can be found in the wide surroundings of Wetterau and Marburg. In Germany, the technique is most predominant in Bavaria. The use of sgraffito was common in the creation of housing façades for the purposes of advertising. The technique was also used in Thuringia, the Engadin, Austria, and Transylvania.

In Catalonia, sgraffito gained prominence during the early 20th century, particularly through the influence of Noucentista neo-classical architects. This period marked a significant resurgence in interest for classical aesthetics and cultural identity, prompting architects to adopt sgraffito as a recurrent technique for embellishing façades. The intricate patterns and designs scratched into the plaster surfaces of buildings became emblematic of the region's architectural heritage, reflecting a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. As sgraffito adorned numerous buildings throughout Catalonia, it not only served as a decorative element but also as a symbol of cultural revival and artistic innovation during a transformative period in the region's history.

Another application of sgraffito involves a simplified painting technique. Initially, a single coat of paint is applied and allowed to dry on a canvas or sheet of paper. Subsequently, a different color is painted over the first layer. Using a palette knife, oil stick, or similar tool, the artist then scratches out a design, revealing the underlying color. Alternatively, oil pastels may be used for the initial layer, with black ink applied on top. In some cases, the initial layer of paint may be omitted, and the artist scrapes back the wet coat to expose the canvas underneath. However, this method is not applicable when using oil pastels. This technique is frequently employed in art classes to introduce novice art students to the sgraffito technique.

In the process of stained glass creation, finely ground pigments of black, brown, and yellow colors, mixed with either water or glycerin, are delicately applied to sheet glass. Once the pigment mixture has dried, the artist can meticulously remove portions of it, revealing the light from beneath in intricate patterns. This technique of sgraffito is subtractive in nature, enabling the artist to work imagery into the surface of the glass. To permanently fuse the pigment to the glass, multiple firings in a kiln may be necessary. This firing process allows the maker to achieve high definition, contrast, and subtle gradients, utilizing a variety of tools to manipulate the pigment and create the desired effects.

Art Nouveau edit

Further information: Art Nouveau in Brussels

Examples of graphic work on facades saw a resurgence c. 1890 through 1915, in the context of the rise of the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Vienna Secession, and particularly the Art Nouveau movement in Belgium and France.

The English artist Heywood Sumner has been identified[3] as this era's pioneer of the technique, for example his work at the 1892 St Mary's Church, Sunbury, Surrey. Sumner's work is sgraffito per se, scratched plaster, but the term has come to encompass a variety of techniques for producing exterior graphic decoration. The incorporation of floral motifs of intricate patterns that uses the contrast of the etching technique.

Although the technique was popularized during the renaissance period, the modern craft movement adopted its usages and have incorporated the styles throughout the crafts movement such as art nouveau that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century in ceramics, glass, and metals.

Applications across different mediums edit

  • Glass: Sgraffito can be seen in both blown and stained glass windows, where skilled artisans carve intricate designs into the surface of the glass, creating stunning visual effects when illuminated.
  • Enamel: In the realm of enamelwork, sgraffito techniques are utilized to carve designs into the enamel surface, adding texture and dimension to the finished pieces.
  • Ceramics and Pottery: Sgraffito is perhaps most commonly associated with ceramics and pottery, where artists scratch through layers of glaze or slip to reveal contrasting colors or the natural clay body beneath, resulting in striking surface decoration.
  • Architecture: Sgraffito finds expression in architectural ornamentation, with elaborate designs adorning the facades of buildings, particularly in regions where the technique has historical significance.
  • Furniture: Though less common, sgraffito can also be found in furniture design, particularly in northern European regions like Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Here, it often appears as intricate patterns scratched onto wooden surfaces, adding a touch of folk art charm to furniture pieces.

Other examples include:

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Sgraffito. In: Weyer, Angela; Roig Picazo, Pilar; Pop, Daniel; Cassar, JoAnn; Özköse, Aysun; Jean-Marc, Vallet; Srša, Ivan (Ed.) (2015). Weyer, Angela; Roig Picazo, Pilar; Pop, Daniel; Cassar, JoAnn; Özköse, Aysun; Vallet, Jean-Marc; Srša, Ivan (eds.). EwaGlos. European Illustrated Glossary Of Conservation Terms For Wall Paintings And Architectural Surfaces. Petersberg: Michael Imhof. p. 102. doi:10.5165/hawk-hhg/233.
  2. ^ Henry, Alison; Stewart, John, eds. (2011). Practical building conservation. Mortars, plasters and renders. Farnham/Burlington: Ashgate Publishing. p. 99.
  3. ^ Modern mural decoration by Alfred Lys Baldry, 1902

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sgraffito.
  • Sgraffito Collection of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam.

January 01, 1970
sgraffito, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, october, 2015, l. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Sgraffito news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message Sgraffito Italian zɡrafˈfiːto plural sgraffiti is a technique either of wall decor produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colours to a moistened surface Alternatively in pottery techniques by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive layers of contrasting slip or glaze and then in either case scratching so as to reveal parts of the underlying layer 1 The Italian past participle sgraffiato is also used especially of pottery Palazzo Massimo Istoriato a unfading palace facade in Rome by Polidoro da Caravaggio and Maturino da Firenze 1523 Artist from Pedraza creates a sgraffito mural at the Casa de los Picos School of Art and Design Segovia Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Art Nouveau 3 1 Applications across different mediums 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEtymology edit nbsp Facade of the Jagiellonian University guesthouse in Krakow nbsp Sgraffito decoration of ceramics in the brown slip on the rim The term sgraffito originates from Italian derived from the verb graffiare meaning to scratch which itself traces back to the Greek word graphein meaning to write This term is related to other terms such as graffito and graffiti History editSgraffito on walls has been used in Europe since classical times It was popularized in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries 2 and can be found in African art In combination with ornamental decoration these techniques formed an alternative to the prevailing painting of walls The technical procedure for sgraffito is relatively simple resembling the process of painting frescoes Sgraffito played a significant role during the Italian Renaissance with two of Raphael s workshops Polidoro da Caravaggio and his partner Maturino da Firenze among the leading specialists They painted palace facades in Rome and other cities however most of their work has since weathered During the 16th century the technique was brought to Germany by the master builders of the Renaissance and taken up with enthusiasm As a simple native art old examples of sgraffito can be found in the wide surroundings of Wetterau and Marburg In Germany the technique is most predominant in Bavaria The use of sgraffito was common in the creation of housing facades for the purposes of advertising The technique was also used in Thuringia the Engadin Austria and Transylvania In Catalonia sgraffito gained prominence during the early 20th century particularly through the influence of Noucentista neo classical architects This period marked a significant resurgence in interest for classical aesthetics and cultural identity prompting architects to adopt sgraffito as a recurrent technique for embellishing facades The intricate patterns and designs scratched into the plaster surfaces of buildings became emblematic of the region s architectural heritage reflecting a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity As sgraffito adorned numerous buildings throughout Catalonia it not only served as a decorative element but also as a symbol of cultural revival and artistic innovation during a transformative period in the region s history Another application of sgraffito involves a simplified painting technique Initially a single coat of paint is applied and allowed to dry on a canvas or sheet of paper Subsequently a different color is painted over the first layer Using a palette knife oil stick or similar tool the artist then scratches out a design revealing the underlying color Alternatively oil pastels may be used for the initial layer with black ink applied on top In some cases the initial layer of paint may be omitted and the artist scrapes back the wet coat to expose the canvas underneath However this method is not applicable when using oil pastels This technique is frequently employed in art classes to introduce novice art students to the sgraffito technique In the process of stained glass creation finely ground pigments of black brown and yellow colors mixed with either water or glycerin are delicately applied to sheet glass Once the pigment mixture has dried the artist can meticulously remove portions of it revealing the light from beneath in intricate patterns This technique of sgraffito is subtractive in nature enabling the artist to work imagery into the surface of the glass To permanently fuse the pigment to the glass multiple firings in a kiln may be necessary This firing process allows the maker to achieve high definition contrast and subtle gradients utilizing a variety of tools to manipulate the pigment and create the desired effects Art Nouveau editFurther information Art Nouveau in Brussels Examples of graphic work on facades saw a resurgence c 1890 through 1915 in the context of the rise of the Arts and Crafts Movement the Vienna Secession and particularly the Art Nouveau movement in Belgium and France The English artist Heywood Sumner has been identified 3 as this era s pioneer of the technique for example his work at the 1892 St Mary s Church Sunbury Surrey Sumner s work is sgraffito per se scratched plaster but the term has come to encompass a variety of techniques for producing exterior graphic decoration The incorporation of floral motifs of intricate patterns that uses the contrast of the etching technique Although the technique was popularized during the renaissance period the modern craft movement adopted its usages and have incorporated the styles throughout the crafts movement such as art nouveau that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century in ceramics glass and metals Applications across different mediums edit Glass Sgraffito can be seen in both blown and stained glass windows where skilled artisans carve intricate designs into the surface of the glass creating stunning visual effects when illuminated Enamel In the realm of enamelwork sgraffito techniques are utilized to carve designs into the enamel surface adding texture and dimension to the finished pieces Ceramics and Pottery Sgraffito is perhaps most commonly associated with ceramics and pottery where artists scratch through layers of glaze or slip to reveal contrasting colors or the natural clay body beneath resulting in striking surface decoration Architecture Sgraffito finds expression in architectural ornamentation with elaborate designs adorning the facades of buildings particularly in regions where the technique has historical significance Furniture Though less common sgraffito can also be found in furniture design particularly in northern European regions like Germany Austria and the Czech Republic Here it often appears as intricate patterns scratched onto wooden surfaces adding a touch of folk art charm to furniture pieces Other examples include Ceramic panels on the Grande Maison de Blanc Brussels architect Oscar Francois artist Henri Privat Livemont 1896 1897 The Hotel Albert Ciamberlani Brussels architect Paul Hankar sgraffito designs by Albert Ciamberlani and executed by Adolphe Crespin fr 1897 The Golden House Charleroi Belgium sgraffito designs by Gabriel Van Dievoet 1899 Princess of Dreams tile tympanum and other work Hotel Metropol Moscow architect William Walcot artist Mikhail Vrubel 1899 1907 Cauchie House Brussels architect Paul Cauchie 1905 Ceramic Homage to Prague tympanum of the Municipal House in Prague architect Osvald Polivka artist Karel Spillar 1905 1912Gallery edit nbsp Palazzo Nasi Florence nbsp Building in Olomouc nbsp Cauchie House Brussels nbsp Detail of Hotel Albert Ciamberlani Brussels nbsp Golden House sgraffiti by Gabriel van Dievoet Charleroi 1899 nbsp Renaissance facade with sgraffito in Modling nbsp Renaissance facade with sgraffito in Althofen nbsp House covered with sgraffito in the village of Pyrgi Mastichochoria of Chios nbsp Building in Barcelona nbsp Town hall of Drosendorf Zissersdorf nbsp Building in Jindrichuv HradecSee also editList of art techniques Scagliola Stucco Terrazzo Venetian plaster ScratchboardReferences edit Sgraffito In Weyer Angela Roig Picazo Pilar Pop Daniel Cassar JoAnn Ozkose Aysun Jean Marc Vallet Srsa Ivan Ed 2015 Weyer Angela Roig Picazo Pilar Pop Daniel Cassar JoAnn Ozkose Aysun Vallet Jean Marc Srsa Ivan eds EwaGlos European Illustrated Glossary Of Conservation Terms For Wall Paintings And Architectural Surfaces Petersberg Michael Imhof p 102 doi 10 5165 hawk hhg 233 Henry Alison Stewart John eds 2011 Practical building conservation Mortars plasters and renders Farnham Burlington Ashgate Publishing p 99 Modern mural decoration by Alfred Lys Baldry 1902External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sgraffito Sgraffito Collection of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam St Benet s Chaplaincy at Queen Mary University of London Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sgraffito amp oldid 1222597096, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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