I.

Introduction

Mural Painting (Latin, murus, “wall”), decoration of walls or ceilings by various techniques. It may may be purely decorative or may be executed for religious or didactic purposes. It is very often used to decorate the inner walls of public buildings, particularly churches, and tends to portray religious, historic, or patriotic themes significant to a public audience. A characteristic of mural painting is its large scale. It is also closely allied to architectural and decorative schemes, and can be used to emphasize or enhance interior design, or through trompe l'oeil transform it, giving the illusion of different spatial dimensions.