Non-Destructive Diagnosis on the Masaccio Frescoes at the Brancacci Chapel, Church of Santa Maria del Carmine (Florence)

Abstract

The Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence, in the Oltrarno area, was built in 1268 (pre-Renaissance low medieval context) and consecrated in 1422. Following a devastating fire in the interior of the original church, in 1771, very little remained. Among the parts that were saved were the Corsini and Brancacci chapels. The architect Giuseppe Ruggeri was responsible for the reconstruction of the church, which was completed in 1782 (with the exception of the gabled façade which remained unfinished, as can still be seen today). Geophysical investigations were undertaken into the Brancacci chapel in order to have information on the structure of the wall that contains wall paintings by Masaccio, Masolino, and Filippino Lippi, to understand the stratigraphy of the mortars, and to formulate some hypotheses on the causes of their detachment. The results are interesting.