Loggia (the Founding of Rome) 

Gentile da Fabriano created this fresco of 'The Founding of Rome' using pigments applied to wet plaster. Notice how the work's materiality influences its appearance, the inherent qualities of the fresco technique resulting in a distinctive texture and luminosity. The mural depicts the founding of Rome, a subject of great social significance. The scene is a dynamic interplay of figures and actions, from the mounted soldiers to the central figures of Romulus and Remus. The process of creating a fresco involves meticulous preparation and skilled execution. The artist had to work quickly and efficiently, applying each layer of pigment before the plaster dried. This demanded not only artistic talent but also a deep understanding of materials and their properties. The creation of such a large-scale work also suggests the involvement of assistants, reflecting a workshop-based mode of production characteristic of the time. The use of skilled labor and the integration of artistic talent with material knowledge challenge distinctions between fine art and craft.