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Painting typifies art to the general public. It is surely true that historically painting has been central to the fine arts from Ancient Egypt to China to Rome. In the Renaissance painting took center stage and did not give it up until the 20th century. Today new media and conceptual art have challenged painting’s hegemony, yet the art schools and galleries are still replete with painters. This week we consider the properties and general history of the medium. 
Students might be surprised at the many different approaches to painting that have fallen in and out of favor over the centuries. For example, fresco painting, or wall painting on plaster, was popular in the Roman Empire but fell out of favor in the late empire for mosaic. In the middle ages, tapestries were preferred to fresco which was later revived in the Italian Renaissance. After being largely replaced by oil on canvas for centuries fresco was finally revived again by Mexican artists in the 20th century. 
It is useful to keep in mind how different media are not merely subject to the whims of taste like fashion or hairstyles, but serve the needs of a specific cultural moment. Isn’t it interesting that oil painting became popular in the Renaissance just at the time when patrons became interested in naturalism? People generally innovate the tools they need to implement their cultural aims.
 What is paintings’ status today? What might we say if our son/daughter aspires to be a great painter?