Collegiata di San Lorenzo, Santa Croce sull'Arno.
Maestro Callossi
Advanced courses in the ancient art of fresco, taught by Maestro Massimo Callossi
“The entire fresco technique is inherently environmentally sustainable, free of chemical, vinyl, acrylic, or synthetic additives. It is the art of Rome and the Renaissance, and it endures.”
Lime, sand, water, and mineral pigments. These are the materials of affresco, the same used by Roman artisans and Florentine masters of the Renaissance. At the Florence Academy of Affresco, Maestro Massimo Callossi teaches this living tradition with uncompromising fidelity to historical practice.
The grassello di calce, slaked lime aged at least 18 months, forms the intonaco alongside sand. Mineral pigments are applied directly onto the still-fresh plaster, fusing into the wall as it sets. No varnishes, no synthetic binders. The brushes too must be natural.
Maestro Massimo Callossi is one of the last living pupils of Pietro Annigoni. Trained in Annigoni's school, he painted frescoes for decades alongside Maestro Romano Stefanelli, from Montecassino to Assisi, and today he teaches the fresco of the Florentine tradition. To learn from him is a privileged experience.
Four modules of two weeks each, held in Florence. Each builds on the previous, from your first embrice to painting on a large existing wall. Sessions run in Italian and English. A certificate signed by Maestro Callossi is awarded upon completion. Admission requires a portfolio review.
The Maestro
Born in 1955 in San Giovanni Valdarno, Maestro Callossi grew up near the river Ema, celebrated by Dante, where a small circle of artists would gather to paint from life. His father, a Magister Operis, introduced him from childhood to the ancient art of building with traditional materials.
In 1969 Callossi met Maestro Pietro Annigoni, a decisive encounter. He became his pupil, and it was Annigoni himself who later sent him to Maestro Romano Stefanelli, with whom he painted frescoes across Italy for decades.
“One of the last living pupils of Pietro Annigoni, he teaches the fresco of the Florentine tradition, the line that runs from Giotto to Michelangelo and Raphael.”
Read the Full BiographyEach consecutive module is designed to build upon the previous one. Admission to each subsequent module is subject to successfully completing the module before.
16–28 Nov 2026 · again in 2027
Introductory lecture, intonaco preparation, sinopia drawing, and your first complete fresco on an embrice tile.
16–28 November 2026
Wall frescoes of 130 × 100 cm on easel, cartone at full scale, and the spolvero pouncing transfer technique.
2027
Execution on a large existing wall, planning giornate, distributing sections, and managing the full logistics of a real fresco site.
2027
The strappo technique, stripping frescoes from a wall, and advanced methods for retouching and long-term restoration.
Applications are reviewed personally by Maestro Callossi. A portfolio of work and prior knowledge of drawing are required. Sessions are held in Italian and English, with simultaneous translation. Places are limited.
Apply for Admission
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