Assisi: MRA-ITA-Ass006

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Geographic Location

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 17^th 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.

Other info about sample provenance: Assisi, Basilica inferiore, Pietro Lorenzetti (1280/85-1345), affresco: Ingresso di Gesù a Gerusalemme

Date of sampling

Other related archival documents: Handwritten list with sample descriptions and provenance: “Fragments of mural paintings – removed from the Restauro by Ann Stoves to be analysed at the Courtauld Institute of Art, April 1967” (‘Restauro’ refers to the Istituto Centrale del Restauro). [Photo 20180803_113409]. ICCROM Archives: EB-86 [folder 07_Italy 1967]. The attribution of this archival reference to these samples is tentative, as no formal confirmation of the association has been found.

Inventory