Final answer:
Reliefs were preferred due to their durability and resistance to fading, with painted surfaces usually treated with a protective coating. Wall paintings found a place in cultures such as Çatalhöyük, where imagery was frequently updated, and during the Renaissance, when fresco gained popularity. Tomb paintings and large-scale murals also exemplify the use of wall painting throughout history.
Step-by-step explanation:
Preference for Relief Sculpture Over Wall Paintings
Reliefs were often preferred over wall paintings due to their durability and ability to withstand strong sunlight without fading. Egyptian reliefs, which were also painted, utilized pigments mostly mineral based, chosen specifically for their resistance to sunlight. The stone surfaces for reliefs were prepared with whitewash or mud plaster, followed by a smoother gesso layer, allowing finely limestone to take paint directly. The binding medium for the paints is not clearly established, but egg tempera and various gums and resins were suggested as possibilities. After painting, reliefs were usually treated with a protective varnish or resin.
Wall paintings were used in cases such as the plastered walls of Çatalhöyük, where both geometric and figural imagery were produced. These wall paintings were part of a tradition that also included renewing the plaster frequently, aligning with various cultural practices or rituals. Additionally, in the Renaissance period, frescoes became a popular medium once again, with pigments applied to wet wall plaster to create large-scale images that covered entire architectural structures.
Examples of Wall Painting Use
Tomb paintings are a notable example, though they've often not survived well over time. Frescoes, such as those from the Renaissance, were widely used on large surfaces, with wet plaster application allowing for quick creation of images over large areas. Mural painting was another significant form used throughout history, notably in ancient cultures and revitalized in the 20th century by Mexican muralists, who used this art form as a communication tool and expression of national consciousness post-revolution.