Fotoreproductie van het fresco Hemelvaart van Christus door Buffalmacco in het Camposanto te Pisa, Italië 1857 - 1900

This is a photographic reproduction by Fratelli Alinari of Buffalmacco's fresco, "Ascension of Christ," originally painted in the Camposanto of Pisa. This image encapsulates the intertwined relationship between art, religion, and civic identity in medieval Italy. Frescoes like Buffalmacco’s served as potent visual aids, reinforcing religious doctrine and moral codes for a largely illiterate population. Set within the Camposanto, a monumental cemetery, the fresco was part of a larger program meant to guide the faithful toward salvation. By the time this photograph was taken, the fresco was a cultural artifact. The Alinari brothers, pioneers in art reproduction, played a crucial role in disseminating Italian art and solidifying a national artistic canon. Analyzing photographs like this alongside historical records and art criticism can reveal the evolving perceptions and values attached to works of art over time. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.