Situated along the Départementale 141d, this wash-house was completely renovated in 2003 and 2004, and is now adorned with five magnificent frescoes by painters from the "Pigment" group (Chantal MONIER, André BARTHELEMY, Maurice DUMENIL, ALBAN) recalling the sources of the Vingeanne, the gorges of the Vingeanne...||Fresco: A variety of mural painting characterised more by the technique used than by the visual result. Fresco is one of the oldest painting techniques in the world. Its origins are lost in the ways of the past. The fresco technique has no rivals. Fresco painting, from the Italian fresco, is executed on a fresh lime-based wall rendering. The artist has to arrive fully armed at the plaster with his or her final drawing for the contours, shadows, lights and life-size tracing paper. All the colours (pigment diluted with water) are ready in buckets. Only mineral colours that are resistant to lime will be used; the painting must be done quickly and on the first stroke. Every brushstroke makes its mark: once a colour has been applied, it is impossible to erase it. The day's work is final. The maximum execution time should not exceed six to eight hours. Accuracy of line is essential for the artist, because retouching is not possible. It's easy to see how the fresco has to be carefully thought out, the plans drawn up and the inevitable changes in colour as the work dries anticipated. A fresco is made up of four elements: washed and dried sand, lime, pure water and pigments. As it dries, the lime plaster absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and forms a crystallisation called cullet, which fixes the colours indelibly as it dries, giving it unalterable durability. It's a good idea for the artist to be his own mason. ||"The fresco preserves a brilliance of eternal duration, But whose promptness and sudden pride, want a great genius to touch its beauties! But the fresco is pressing, and wants without complacency, that a painter accomodates with his impatience, with her, it is not return to try, and all at the first blow must be carried out." MOLIERE
Les fresques du lavoir d'Aujeurres
