Plaster was common for covering walls in the 19th Century, but with the advent of drywall, plaster fell by the wayside, since it was costlier and took longer to apply. However, with many homeowners looking to recreate the look of plaster walls, the art of creating faux Venetian plaster finishes grows in popularity.
You can buy fake Venetian plaster or hire a trained professional to finish your walls with real Venetian plaster. Some decorative painters train in Italy, but many take classes in the United States.