I also hadn't heard of Massacio before, and it is interesting how his painting, at the birth of the Renaissance, influenced others in their space, perspective and technical choices for future art. It should be preserved because, like anything that comes before the others, people like to see what influences what, and by preserving this. . . future generations can gain insight in the differing art of the Renaissance era. I looked up a picture of the painting and noticed a phrase above the sarcophagus, what does it say and what does it translate to?