The Resurrection of Christ (After Buonamico Buffalmacco) - Fratelli Alinari

A nineteenth-century albumen silver print by Fratelli Alinari documenting the fourteenth-century Resurrection fresco by Buonamico Buffalmacco in Pisa.

This albumen silver print by the Fratelli Alinari studio documents the fresco cycle located within the Camposanto Monumentale in Pisa. The original work, attributed to the fourteenth-century painter Buonamico Buffalmacco, depicts the Resurrection of Christ. The composition centres on the figure of Christ rising from the tomb, flanked by angels and soldiers who appear in states of slumber or alarm. The photographic reproduction captures the weathered texture of the fresco, preserving the visual evidence of the wall painting as it appeared in the late nineteenth century.

The Alinari brothers, based in Florence, were pioneers in the systematic documentation of Italian art and architecture. Their photographic archives provide a record of works that have since suffered from environmental damage or the effects of time. This print offers a view into the stylistic characteristics of the Trecento period, showing the expressive, narrative approach to religious iconography typical of Buffalmacco. The image retains the tonal qualities of early photographic processes, presenting a sepia-toned interpretation of the original fresco's monochromatic or faded colour palette.

By focusing on the Camposanto frescoes, the Alinari studio contributed to the wider European interest in early Italian art. This print functions as both a historical document and a study of the original composition. The framing of the photograph includes the architectural elements of the tomb and the surrounding decorative borders of the fresco cycle, providing context for the placement of the work within the cemetery walls. Collectors of historical photography and students of Italian art history will find this piece a clear representation of the intersection between nineteenth-century documentation techniques and medieval mural painting.