San Gemini Preservation Studies 2010

Restoration in Italy - Issues and Theory (3 Credits)

Session 2 (July 4 – July 31)

Course #: S2-1

Instructor: Prof. Max Cardillo

Email:  mcardillo@sgsmail.org

 
 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

This seminar course encourages students to closely examine the purpose and goals of preservation. Beyond technical issues, there is a series of questions of a philosophical and moral nature that condition the work of restorers and preservationists. These issues are not incidental and misguided restorations have become a major cause of destruction of invaluable cultural heritage. The course is aimed primarily at students of art history, art, architecture, restoration, anthropology, archaeology, museum conservation, and management of cultural heritage.

 

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

  • Understanding the concepts of transformation, memory and preservation 

  • Understanding the concept of cultural heritage 

  • Assessing the value of a cultural object from an artistic and historical perspective

  • Assessing the proper context and ownership of art and culture

  • Learning to implement strategies of restoration

COURSE STRUCTURE:

Daily lectures and discussions

Site visits to ongoing preservation work in Italy

Assigned reading

Written assignment

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will learn to assess the various intellectual objectives and issues that guide the process of restoration and conservation. In a field where there are no clear or simple answers, this course will help guide students toward asking the right questions and to consider all the issues that are relevant to the process of conservation of material culture.

 

GRADING POLICY: 

Final exam 30%

Participation to class discussion 30%

Written Assignment 30%

 

COURSE SCHEDULE:

 

1

San Gemini Urban Development – Visit to San Gemini

2

Transformation, time and memory

3

What is Restoration, Preservation, Conservation and Restoration Theory

4

Concept of “Cultural Heritage”

5

Historical practices of restoration and preservation

6

Object vs. idea

7

Original intent of the artist

8

Historical vs. aesthetic considerations

9

Wholeness in art

10

Reconstructions, completions and additions

11

Context and the frames

12

Museums

13

Change and restoration

14

The implications of cleaning an art object

15

Lacunae and integration

16

Strategies for restoration

17

Visiting Lecture – Mark Giddings

18

Visiting Lecturer – Antonio Rava

19

Visiting Lecturer – Antonella Ozino Caligaris

20

Visiting Lecturer – Director of Local Civic Museum

   

READINGS:

Edited by: Stanley Price, Kirby Talley, Melucco Vaccaro, Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Getty Conservation Institute

Cesare Brandi, Theory of Restoration ICCROM

 

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS:  

Class discussion of reading material

Term paper #1:  8 page paper on a topic to be assigned

Term paper #2:  8 page paper on a topic to be assigned (only graduate students)

Exam(s): Essay questions