The Rod of Aaron and the Brazen Serpent - Fratelli Alinari

A nineteenth-century albumen print by Fratelli Alinari documenting Benozzo Gozzoli's Renaissance fresco cycle in the Camposanto of Pisa.

This albumen silver print by the Fratelli Alinari studio captures a photographic record of the fresco cycle painted by Benozzo Gozzoli in the Camposanto Monumentale of Pisa. The original fresco, executed between 1468 and 1484, depicts the biblical narrative of the rod of Aaron and the brazen serpent. Gozzoli, a student of Fra Angelico, was commissioned to decorate the north wall of the Camposanto with scenes from the Old Testament. His work is characterised by a narrative density and a focus on architectural and natural settings that frame the human figures.

The Alinari brothers, based in Florence, were pioneers in the systematic documentation of Italian art and architecture. Their photographs served as essential visual records for scholars and collectors during the nineteenth century. This specific print preserves the composition of the fresco, showing the tiered arrangement of figures and the stylised trees that define Gozzoli's approach to spatial organisation. The image reflects the state of the fresco during the late nineteenth century, providing a historical view before subsequent damage and restoration efforts altered the appearance of the original wall paintings.

The print exhibits the characteristic sepia tones of the albumen process, a medium popular for its ability to render fine detail in architectural and artistic subjects. The composition is divided into distinct registers, typical of the narrative style employed in the Camposanto frescoes. By documenting these works, the Alinari studio ensured that the visual information of the Italian Renaissance remained accessible to a wider audience. This print functions as a historical document, capturing the intersection of fifteenth-century fresco painting and nineteenth-century photographic technology.