81573 - Restoration Theories and Practice (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have a deep knowledge of the theory and the proceedings of the science of restoration in the past ; is able to recognize the operations of restorations made in the past; is able to develop a critical approach to the science of conservation of cultural heritage; is able to approach and converse with the other experts of the world of restoration, like restorers, scientists and art historians.

Course contents

The aim of the course is to supply the fundamentals of the discipline to the students thanks to the investigation of different theories and practices that have marked the history of the restoration and preservation of monuments and works of art. Particular attention will be placed on the writings and thought of John Ruskin, Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-Le-Duc, Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle, Alois Riegl, Cesare Brandi and Umberto Baldini. The final part of the program will be concentrated on the art graffiti and the wall paintings of the contemporary age to illustrate the possibility and the necessity to conserve and safeguard them for posterity (as recently demonstrated the detachment of some works by Blu from their original site, now located on the walls of the Museum of the City of Bologna).

Readings/Bibliography

Academic:
A. CONTI, Storia del restauro e della conservazione delle opere d'arte,Milano 1988 or alternatively M. CIATTI, Appunti per un manuale di storia e di teoria del restauro. Dispense per gli studenti, con la collaborazione di F. Martusciello, Firenze 2009; H. JEDRZEJEWSKA, Principi di restauro, Opus, 1983

One book chosen among those of following group: E. E. VIOLLET LE DUC, L'architettura ragionata, Jaca Book, Milano 1981; J. RUSKIN, Le sette lampade dell'architettura, Jaca Book, Milano 1981; D. LEVI, Cavalcaselle. Il pioniere della conservazione dell'arte italiana, Einaudi, Torino, 1988; A. RIEGL, Il culto moderno dei monumenti. Il suo carattere e i suoi inizi, Abscondita, Milano 2011; C. BRANDI, Teoria del restauro, Einaudi, Torino, 1977; U. BALDINI, Teoria del restauro e unità di metodologia, Nardini, Firenze I 1978, II 1981

Monographic:
S. RINALDI, La vita breve dell’arte contemporanea in L’arte fuori dal museo, problemi di conservazione dell’arte contemporanea, a cura di S. RINALDI, Roma 2008, pp. 8-30; G. BONSANTI, Verso alcune linee guida sul restauro dell’arte contemporanea in Il futuro del contemporaneo, a cura di L. MONTALBANO, M. PATTI con la collaborazione di G. FACCHINETTI PULAZZINI, EDIFIR, Firenze 2013, PP. 13-17; L. CIANCABILLA,The sight gallery. Salvaguardia e conservazione della pittura murale urbana contemporanea a Bologna, BUP, Bologna, 2015; C. OMODEO, L'arte allo stato urbano in Street art. Banksy & co. L'arte allo stato urbano, catalogo della mostra, a cura di L. CIANCABILLA, C. OMODEO, Bup, Bologna 2016, pp. 9-17.

Teaching methods

During the lessons the professor will show slides to the students to introduce them to the visul knowledge of the works of art. Lectures will be complemented by visits to museums and art galleries and public or private laboratories of restoration. For this reason the students will have the possibility of seeing the operations of restoration in real time and speak with the most important experts of this subject.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of an interview in order to check the understanding of the topics discussed in the lectures and the texts in program by the student (divided in two parts, institutional and monographic).

Teaching tools

Slide projector, PC and projector, overhead projector; visits to museums and art galleries and public or private laboratories of restoration

Office hours

See the website of Luca Ciancabilla