Polyfresco
Virginia Strom Precourt made many trips to Italy, Bulgaria and Rumania to study the deterioration of the regions’ ancient frescoes. Determined to develop a more stable medium than pigment applied to wet plaster, she used her knowledge of the polymers—a remnant from her days as a commercial artist—to develop a process that would be more permanent. After much experimentation, she combined polyvinyl acetate with ground stone, which she prepared by hand until casting stone became available, and applied pigment. She then buried the finished work near her studio in for two years, after which time the painting emerged unscathed.