Pisa, Buffalmacco's Triumph of Death returns to the Cemetery after more than 70 years of absence

The Triumph of Death, the masterpiece painted between 1336 and 1341 by Buonamico Buffalmacco (Florence, 1290 ca. 1340), has returned to Pisa ’s Monumental Cemetery after an absence of more than seventy years: the spectacular fresco, severely damaged during World War II bombings in 1944, was in fact torn out shortly afterwards for restoration. The restoration affair went on for a long time, however, and it was only in 2018 that the work was completed, with the presentation on April 7 of the results achieved. Decisive were the interventions of the last few years, carried out by the technicians of theOpera della Primaziale and, since 2009, supervised by the Works Management headed by Professor Antonio Paolucci, who today gave a lectio magistralis to present the relocated fresco, and under the supervision of chief restorers Carlo Giantomassi and Gianluigi Colalucci.

“With the relocation,” said Paolucci, “we finally close the accounts with the war.” It was indeed the last open wound of the war: to celebrate the return to the Cemetery, the Opera della Primaziale opened the monument free of charge for three hours (from 7 to 10 p.m.) to anyone, citizen or tourist, who wanted to visit (long lines formed outside the Cemetery).

The Triumph of Death was one of the first frescoes to be painted: it was in fact painted, as mentioned above, between 1336 and 1341. The author, Buonamico Buffalmacco, is also famous for being the protagonist of many novellas in Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron, and he also painted the other two scenes in the cycle, namely the Stories of the Holy Fathers and the Last Judgment. However, it is in the Triumph of Death that Buonamico Buffalmacco reaches the pinnacles of his art, combining several autonomous narrative cores that are functional to the representation of the theme, and creating a distressing narrative that glues the viewer to the wall to follow Buffalmacco’s tale, which begins at the moment when a group of elegant young people strolling in a forest discover the macabre presence of three corpses: from there opens the vision of death coming from above to reap its victims, sparing no one and making no distinction of age, social status or census.

The entire Buffalmacco cycle is influenced by the works of the 14th-century scholar Domenico Cavalca, a stern scourge of all worldly vanity, and they show striking affinities with the coeval creations of Dante and Boccaccio. The narrative vividness and vividness of color, which characterized all the walls of the corridors, captured the viewer’s attention, guiding him in a continuous reflection on the theme of suffering. A spiritual journey that takes place in an enclosed space, confined behind the severe white marble curtain overlooking the Cathedral Square.

Below are images of the newly restored fresco on its wall in the Monumental Cemetery.

Buonamico Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death returns to Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery

Buonamico Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death returns to Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery

Buonamico Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death returns to Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery

Buonamico Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death returns to Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery

Buonamico Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death returns to Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery

Buonamico Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death returns to Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery

Buonamico Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death returns to Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery

Buonamico Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death returns to Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery

Buonamico Buffalmacco’s Triumph of Death returns to Pisa’s Monumental Cemetery

Pisa, Buffalmacco's Triumph of Death returns to the Cemetery after more than 70 years of absence

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