2008 Annual Report - World Monuments Fund

pisa, italy
Camposanto
Construction on Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery—or
Camposanto—began in 1278 but was not completed until
1464. Part of the complex that includes the famous Leaning
Tower, the walled cemetery was built for illustrious locals. It
is dominated by a large open court surrounded by elaborate
Gothic porticoes. In the 14th century, the walls were decorated with
frescoes by a number of different painters, including Francesco Traini,
Bonamico Buffalmacco, Andrea Bonaiuti, and Antonio Veneziano. In
the 15th century, frescoes depicting scenes from the Old Testament
were completed by the master painter Benozzo Gozzoli.
During World War II, bombing caused a fire that damaged the frescoes.
After the war, the frescoes were taken down from the walls and hastily
consolidated. Eventually, it became evident that the materials used in
that conservation effort were causing harm; a white patina had formed
salts were drying onto the surface.
In 2008, WMF supported the restoration of Gozzoli’s 15th-century painting, The Building of the
Tower of Babel. The Opera Primaziale Pisana built a state-of-the-art restoration laboratory where
much of the work was performed under controlled conditions. The fresco has now been rehung
in its original location, atop an aluminum grid that allows air to circulate to lessen the effects of
the changing external temperature and humidity.
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