Orazio De Gennaro, a native Italian, specializes in the ancient craft of venetian plaster. The true beauty of venetian plaster depends on the right synthesis of the natural elements and the correct way to slake the lime, which is then combined with marble dust. Next this material is carefully mixed together with linseed oil and marseilles soap, and then colored with earth pigments. In a unique application, described on HGTV as a "noisy tap dance of whirling color", this mixture is troweled several times on a wall that has been carefully prepared with scratch coat. When dry, it is brushed with marseilles soap, then troweled again with beeswax, enhancing the brilliance of the lime finish.

Out of his deep respect for this tradition, Orazio De Gennaro succeeds in creating wall surfaces that reveal the true beauty of venetian plaster.

Click here to see an illustrated step-by-step outline of Orazio's technique.

Click to see a video clip of Orazio on HGTV's Modern Masters Series, where he demonstrates his technique.

Please note this requires the Quicktime plug-in to view. The plug-in can be downloaded here.