The Art of Scagliola
Few people know the art of scagliola and the charm of this peculiar artistic technique which, using “poor” materials and a relatively simple method, imitates fine materials such as marble, hard stones and precious metals.
Yet, today, this technique that in Florence can boast a well-established, first-rate tradition is experiencing a favourable moment as a consequence of the revival and revaluation of its expressive potential which, although mindful of a glorious past, is being adapted to better meet contemporary taste and needs. Scagliola is made from powdered plaster (setting or moulding plaster used both in building and sculpture) obtained from selenite, characterized by a peculiar scaled structure (scaled in Italian is a scaglie hence the name scagliola, translator’s note). The substance, skilfully mixed with water, animal glue and pigments, is worked to a dough-like consistency that, when dry, is eventually polished and becomes glossy and as hard as stone. This mixture can be applied to walls and floors in a manner that accurately mimics marble or used to make table tops look as if they were made of hard stone marquetries, or else to produce frames, brackets, columns and other furnishings. However, you must not just think of scagliola as an economical alternative to replace more precious materials: as a matter of fact scagliola artefacts have traditionally been appreciated especially for their artistic value even by European princes and sovereigns.
Something which is also borne out by the fact that, over time, scagliola has also been used as a painting technique to create true paintings. In Italy, the main scagliola schools have been in Carpi and Florence. It was actually in Florence that during the 18th century scagliola opened to new expressive potentials, thanks to the experimentation carried out by the Vallombrosan monk Enrico Hugford (1695-1771). The latter, giving up the imitation of stone marquetry, transformed the scagliola technique into a true painting genre and executed paintings where he attained to the nuances and chiaroscuro effects typical of pictorial art. The choice of pastel colours as well as agreeable and well-balanced compositions met the late-18th century taste, thus making scagliola painting very fashionable and extremely successful indeed till the end of the following century. Today this art is carried on by few, yet skilled craftsmen, both in the building sector and in the artisanal one to produce objects and furnishings. Scagliolists, besides trying to hand down the technique and the styles of the
past, also offer formal and expressive solutions which suit contemporary taste, often making use of innovative materials.
by Silvia Botticelli
