Museo Delle Sinopie

About

Closed for extraordinary maintenance from 13 January 2020 to date to be advised. Destined to remain concealed beneath the finished work, the precious “sinopia” is the only graphic work that we still have of the early masters, for drawings on paper or parchment that have survived from way back in the Middle Ages are extremely rare. As the first step towards making a fresco, the sinopia is a drawing traced out on the first layer of plaster. It takes its name from “sinoper” or “sinopia”, the red pigment which is mixed with water and applied by brush. The Pisa collection is absolutely unique and it came to light as the result of a terrible event. A fire raged through the Camposanto during a bombing raid in the Second World War and this made it necessary to detach the frescoes from the plaster in order to save vast portions that had not been burnt and to restore them. The outer film of paint was removed using the “strappo” technique, revealing the hidden sinopias beneath.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 30 minutes