The term 'sinopia' is derived from the city of Sinope, the historical source of the reddish-brown earth pigment used for the underdrawings.
The drawings were detached from the walls of the Camposanto using the 'strappo' technique to save them from environmental degradation.
The museum building formerly served as the city's infirmary for pilgrims visiting the Cathedral complex.
Many of the sinopie reveal grid lines, indicating that artists used mathematical scaling to transfer their paper designs onto the large walls.
The Sinopie Museum in Pisa houses the world's most significant collection of sinopie, which are the preparatory reddish-brown underdrawings for the Camposanto Monumentale's frescos. These drawings were revealed to the public following the 1944 bombing of the cemetery, which damaged the outer layers of the frescos and exposed the sketches underneath. The museum is located in the Spedale della Misericordia, a 13th-century hospital building once used for pilgrims. It displays 14th and 15th-century works by artists including Benozzo Gozzoli and Andrea di Bonaiuto. The facility utilizes a high-tech climate control system and specialized lighting to preserve the delicate pigment on the plaster surfaces. The museum provides an essential technical context for understanding Italian fresco technique prior to the final application of the plaster 'intonaco'.
The large, vaulted gallery space itself provides a unique architectural photo with the underdrawings mounted symmetrically along the walls.
Buy a combined ticket if you plan to visit the Camposanto, as the museum provides the necessary context for the frescos you will see there.
Read the provided wall descriptions carefully to understand the difference between the underdrawing and the final fresco layer.
Do not rush through the rooms; the significance of this museum lies in the detail of the drawings, which requires time to observe properly.
Open daily throughout the year, but subject to potential closures during extreme weather events or special liturgical events in the Piazza.
Maintain a quiet tone; photography is permitted but strictly without flash to prevent light damage to the historical pigments.
