Though very different traditions have been frequent from antique times to the 19th century the principles of stucco work, of its materials and techniques including polychromy have just been the same from the Roman times onwards. Nevertheless there is a remarkable lack of literature and systematic research and documentation to note within this field of conservation. First this attempt of a systematic survey is dealing with problems of terminology, of materials and techniques discussing several observations on site with the recipes of various written sources from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Reliable and frequent analytical examinations of historical evidence and importance of samples are requested for the future. Notes are given to the mediums, pigments and metalfoils used. Four groups can be found though temporary combinations of colours are characteristic: 1) white or grey stucco to wall of same colourless aspect, 2) white stucco to polychrome wall, 3) polychrome stucco to white wall, 4) metal-applications (gold, silver, copper in foils) for stucco and/or wall. Thirdly conservation problems are discussed concerning structural damage due to building defects and weathering-decay but problems of reconstruction or transfer, too. reconstruction of both points. See also 16-819.