Footnote 1 – Images of God in Western Art

These wall paintings are frequently referred to as frescoes. Unfortunately, they are not; if they were, they would have survived in even better condition. Fresco technique involves applying the paint to wet plaster so the color is partally absorbed into the plaster. At Dura-Europos the so-called al secco technique was used: the paint was applied after the plaster dried. This technique is much easier to execute, but is less durable; the paint may flake off after a time.