Art History

ELIANA BILLI
ELIANA BILLI

The Course aims to lead to the knowledge of the main artistic techniques through the study of literary sources and the detailed examination of the technical processes for the creation of art works. The student will develop skills in recognizing the materials and the ability to trace and interpret the enforcement procedures of the artifacts in the various branches of artistic activity. As part of the same course, the student will be led to the knowledge of modern methodological approaches to the restoration of art works, in relation to the historical evolution of the concept and business practices of the restoration over the centuries.

The Course aims to lead to the knowledge of the main artistic techniques through the study of literary sources and the detailed examination of the technical processes for the creation of art works. The student will develop skills in recognizing the materials and the ability to trace and interpret the enforcement procedures of the artifacts in the various branches of artistic activity. As part of the same course, the student will be led to the knowledge of modern methodological approaches to the restoration of art works, in relation to the historical evolution of the concept and business practices of the restoration over the centuries.

none

The course will be divided into two sections.
The first part of the lessons will be dedicated to the definition of the modern concept of restoration, to the knowledge of the fundamental lines of Cesare Brandi's Theory of Restoration and its evolution in the thought of Giovanni Urbani. The theoretical framework will be developed through the analysis of some cases of restoration interventions (carried out on various types of artefacts) useful for highlighting the problems that, in terms of methodological and critical choices, each restoration poses for both restorers and art historians.
The second part of the course will have a more historical slant and will analyse the reflections and theorisations on restoration in the European panorama between the 19th and 20th centuries.
Visits to restoration sites and workshops are planned.

Testi disponibili in pdf (dispensa su Moodle Sapienza)

- C. BRANDI, Il restauro. Teoria e Pratica, a cura di M. CORDARO, Roma 1994 (Introduzione e pp. 5-34).
- C. BRANDI, Teoria del restauro, Torino 1963. Va bene qualsiasi edizione successiva. (Testo da acquistare, non disponibile in dispensa)
- A. CONTI, Storia del restauro e della conservazione delle opere d’arte, Milano 1975 (Introduzione di R. Longhi: pp. 7-30).
- M. CIATTI, Appunti per un manuale di teoria e storia del restauro, Ospedaletto 2009 (pp. 147-262; 278-287).
- O. ROSSI PINELLI, Le teorie del restauro. Dalla carta di Atene a oggi, Torino 2023 (pp. 3-97; 139-161).

Classroom lectures and visits to restoration laboratories and restoration yards

classroom lessons and visits to external contexts

Oral exam

When was Cesare Brandi's Theory of Restoration written? What are his critical positions?