ICCROM Mora Samples Collection
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Assisi: MRA-ITA-Ass022

Type Sample Item

Sample ID

MRA-ITA-Ass022

Sample Material Type

Mural painting

Sample Sub-type

cross section

Dimensions (cm)

Length
1.7
Height
0.3

Geographic Location

Country
Italy
Place
Assisi

Site/monument

Italy (ITA)
Assisi
Basilica Papale di San Francesco

Historical note about the site/monument

Basilica of Saint Francis (Italian: Basilica di San Francesco). The basilica’s construction began around the year 1228, when Francis of Assisi was canonized. Its Romanesque belfry was completed in 1239, and the basilica was consecrated in 1251. Following the designs of Master Jacopo Tedesco, it consists of an Upper Church, Lower Church, and crypt. The structure combines elements of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Both the Upper Church and Lower Church are decorated with frescoes, including a cycle (possibly by Giotto) illustrating the life of Francis of Assisi, works of Lorenzetti, and a painting of the Crucifixion by Cimabue. Frescoes dating to the 17th century and executed by Cesare Sermei and G. Martelli are also represented in the basilica.

Further reading:
Lunghi, E. (1996). The Basilica of St Francis at Assisi: The Frescoes by Giotto, His Precursors and Followers. Thames and Hudson. ISBN-10: 0500278342.
Bonsanti, G., G. Roli and S. Sartarelli (1998). The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi: glory and destruction. New York, NY, USA: HN Abrams. ISBN-10: 0810927675.

Chronological period (sample)

13th-17th century

Other info about sample provenance

Assisi, Basilica inferiore [label glued to the cross-section]

Sample taken by

_

Date of sampling

Unknown
No

Other related archival documents

_

Related samples

MRA-ITA-Ass021 and MRA-ITA-Ass023 (Fig.1)

Other information about the sample

_

External repositories with sister samples

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Support

Support material type
plaster
Number of layers
1
Aprox. thickness (from bottom to top in cm)
0.2
Colour (from bottom to top)
brownish

Finishing Layers

Finishing layers material type
paint layers
Number of layers
2
Colour
black; red?

Inventory