Fotoreproductie van het fresco De herrijzenis van Christus naar Buanamico Buffalmacco in het Camposanto te Pisa, Italië 1857 - 1900

This is a photographic reproduction by Fratelli Alinari, of a fresco of the resurrection of Christ, by Buanamico Buffalmacco, in the Camposanto in Pisa, Italy. Frescos are made by painting on freshly laid lime plaster with pigments mixed in water. The image becomes fixed as the plaster dries. The process requires skill and planning, with the artist needing to work quickly and efficiently. Frescos like Buffalmacco’s were often commissioned for churches and public spaces as didactic tools, intended to educate the masses about biblical stories. Fratelli Alinari was one of the oldest photographic firms in the world. Founded in 1852 in Florence, they played a vital role in documenting and disseminating Italian art and culture. While Buffalmacco was engaged in the physical labor of painting on the wall, Fratelli Alinari were equally engaged in the labor of photographic reproduction. The work of both artists provided access to images for people who would never have had the chance to see the originals. In this way, the photograph democratizes access to art, and its religious message.