The unique history of Venetian plastering means that it is simultaneously a modern, stylish material perfect for modern interior design and a proven material that has been utilised for thousands of years.
Whilst the fundamental mixture was first written about 2000 years ago by Vitruvius, there is evidence to suggest that it was used for thousands of years before this.
The lengthy legacy of polished plaster, even with multiple interruptions as the secret to making it was lost, means that some of the most famous and beautiful buildings ever constructed used polished plaster as a fundamental part of their design.
Here are some of the most notable examples.
The Palace Of Versailles
One of the most ambitious and audacious buildings ever made, the Palace of Versailles is filled with some of the most opulent examples of French Baroque design ever, including rooms almost literally made from gold.
However, some of the most impressive and evocative of its design elements were made using Venetian plaster techniques, which include some of the borders and ceiling stucco work. Even some of the ornate doors were realised using polished plaster.
By the time it was used in one of the world’s most famous palaces, the technique had been revived thanks to the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio and refined significantly.
However, the Palace of Versailles would also be one of the final major projects to use polished plaster during this second wave, before Carlo Scarpa revived it for a third and final time in the 1950s.
Doge’s Palace
The Venetian landmark Doge’s Palace is a somewhat unusual example because whilst it did not initially have many examples of Venetian stucco plaster despite being in Venice, its interiors would rapidly evolve and develop around the elaborate, evolving art form.
The greatest example of this is the Stucchi or Stucco Room, which reflects the elaborate, ornate use of polished plaster throughout the vault and lunettes of the room. Many of these follow the Renaissance tradition of being based on classical artistic themes.
The Library Of Congress
The Library Of Congress in the United States is a somewhat unique case of a building that took advantage of the beauty of polished plaster in between the two periods where it was most commonly used.
Founded in 1800 and rapidly expanded from there, the stucco murals of the Library of Congress litter many of the walls of its reading rooms and grand halls, which fits the American adoration of timeless design and the practicality of achieving such a look without the use of marble.
Possibly the most standout feature in the Library of Congress is found in the Main Reading Room, which amongst many other stucco features includes eight grand marble columns featuring allegorical figures shaped in plaster.
The eight figures represent symbols of the eight pillars of civilisation, represented through an anthropomorphic statue; these pillars include Religion, History, Law, Art, Commerce, Science, Poetry and Philosophy.
They also represent the countries that are considered to have been the biggest contributors to these epochal aspects of human civilisation, and emphasise how Venetian plaster stands at the precipice between design and art.
