The Fresco of Saint Leonard in the Episcopio of Ventaroli in Carinola

This paper relates to a much wider research programme aimed at documenting and studying through survey, analytical methodologies of drawing and archive research, of the conspicuous part of the national architectural heritage which, although lesser known, is characterised by undeniable historical and artistic value. This case study looks at the church of Episcopio di Ventaroli near Carinola, a small village in the territory of Caserta situated close to the line of the via Appia, the “Regina viarum” of the ancient Romans. The building, dating to the 11th century, but probably originating in the 5th century, having undergone enlargements, devastation, reconstructions, long years of abandonment and several phases of restoration, still houses an important cycle of frescoes. The image of San Leonardo, hermit and bishop, stands out among these for the luminosity of its colours and its emotive immediacy, and is the object of our interest. Among the aims of this paper is to make this church, and all that is preserved inside it, part of a scientific debate through a “still image” intended as the base from which to begin a wider research programme that will come to include the complete pictorial cycle. Research has already begun with a campaign of data collection using digital active sensor instruments – laser scanner -, and passive high-resolution instruments – digital camera and spectrophotometers. The results provided by the processed, analysed, compared and collated data have contributed to the formulation of hypotheses of use for the decoding of the possible “design model”, to be intended as a contribution, albeit partial, towards safeguarding and tutelage.