KONS2010 – History and Theory of Conservation
Spring 2018
NB
The pensum reading is not divided equally throughout the course. Students are encouraged to complete the reading in advance of lectures.
The Compendium (available from Akademika) should include all texts that are not available via a web-link.
LECTURE 1 The history of conservation/restoration: an overview of ideas and concepts
Antiquity to the early twentieth century
* Muñoz Viñas, Salvador, Contemporary Theory of Conservation, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford (2005) ‘Chapter 1: What is conservation?’ pp. 7–25 ‘Chapter 7: The reasons for conservation’ pp. 171–181.
* Schießl, U., ’The conservator-restorer. A short history of his profession and the development of professional education’, in CON.B.E.FOR., Ricerca Comparata: Conservatori-Restauratori di Beni Culturali in Europa: Centri ed Istituti di Formazione, ed. C. Gimondi, Associazione Giovanni Secco Suardo, Lurano (2000) pp. 37–61 (biblio 98–105).
€ Brommelle, Norman, ’Material for a History of Conservation’, Studies in Conservation 2/4 (1956) pp. 176–188.
* Keck, Sheldon, ‘Further materials for a history of conservation’, in Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, eds. N. Stanley Price et al., Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (1996) pp. 281–287.
Optional (external to pensum):
Jokilehto, J., A History of Architectural Conservation, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford (2002) pp. 1–6, 13–16, 21–25, 29–48, 56–65 [First published 1999].
LECTURE 2 Formative debates in the nineteenth century
* Melucco Vaccaro, Alessandra, ‘Restoration and Anti-Restoration’, in Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, eds. N. Stanley Price et al., Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (1996) pp. 308–313.
* Morris, William, ‘Manifesto of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings’, in Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, eds. N. Stanley Price et al., Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (1996) pp. 319–321. [Originally published in ‘The Principles of the Society [for the Protection of Ancient Buildings] As Set Forth upon Its Foundation’, Builder 35 (25 August 1877)].
* Ruskin, John, ‘The Lamp of Memory, II’, in Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, eds. N. Stanley Price et al., Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (1996) pp. 322–323. [Originally published in: ‘The Lamp of Memory’, chap. 6 in The Seven Lamps of Architecture, Smith, Elder, London (1849) nos. 18–20].
€ Miele, Christopher, ‘“A Small Knot of Cultured People”: William Morris and ideologies of protection’, Art Journal 54/2 (1995) pp. 73–79.
* Émile-Mâle, Gilberte, ‘The first transfer at the Louvre in 1750: Andrea del Sarto’s La Charité (1982)’, in Issues in the Conservation of Paintings, eds. D. Bomford and M. Leonard, Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (2004) 275–289.
Optional (external to pensum):
Darrow, Elisabeth, ‘Necessity Introduced these Arts: Pietro Edwards and the Restoration of the Public Pictures of Venice 1778–1819’, in Past Practice, Future Prospects; The British Museum Occasional Paper Number 145, eds. A. Oddy and S. Smith, The British Museum Press, London (2001) pp. 61–65.
Falser, M.S., Lipp, W., Tomaszewski, A., eds., Conservation and preservation: interactions between theory and practice: in memoriam Alois Riegl (1858‒1905), Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze, c. 2010.
Jokilehto, J., A History of Architectural Conservation, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford (2002) pp. 101, 109–110, 127–132, 137–141, 149–157, 174–176, 181–186, 252–255.
LECTURE 3 Scientific research and museum objects
Science, archaeology and the study of paint
* Nadolny, Jilleen, ‘The first century of published scientific analyses of the materials of historical painting and polychromy, circa 1780–1880’, Reviews in Conservation 4 (2003) pp. 39–51.
* Gilberg, M., and Vivian, D., ’The rise of conservation science in archaeology (1830–1930)’, in Past Practice – Future Prospects, The British Museum Occasional Paper No. 145, eds. A. Oddy and S. Smith, The British Museum Press, London (2001) pp. 87–93.
* Bradley, Susan, ‘The impact of conservation science at the British Museum’, in The Interface between Science and Conservation, British Museum Occasional Paper No. 116, ed. S. Bradley, The British Museum, London (1997) pp. 1–7.
Histories of cleaning controversies
* Anderson, Jaynie, ‘The first cleaning controversy at the National Gallery 1846–1853’, in Appearance, Opinion, Change: Evaluation the Look of Paintings, The United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, London (1990) pp. 3–7.
€ Keck, Sheldon, ‘Some picture cleaning controversies: past and present’, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation 23/2 (1984) pp. 73–87.
* Schmitt, Sibylle, ‘Examination of paintings treated by Pettenkoffer’s process’, in Cleaning, Retouching and Coatings. Preprints of the Contributions to the Brussels Congress, 3–7 September 1990, eds. J.S. Mills and P. Smith, IIC, London (1990) pp. 81–84.
* Rød, Johannes, ‘The cleaning controversy and the keeping of secrets at the National Gallery in Oslo 1917–1921’, in ICOM-CC, 11th triennial meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, 1–6 September 1996: Preprints, ed. J. Bridgland, James & James (Science Publishers), London (1996) pp. 172–176.
€ Sciolino, E., ‘Leonardo painting’s restoration bitterly divides art experts’, New York Times, 3 January 2012, (accessed October 2017).
Optional (external to pensum):
Plenderleith, H.J., ‘Notes on technique in the examination of panel paintings’, Technical Studies in the Field of the Fine Arts 1(1) 1932, 3-7.
Urbani, Giovanni, ‘The science and art of conservation of cultural property’, in Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, eds. N. Stanley Price et al., Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (1996) pp. 445–450.
Larsen, René, ‘The Science of Conservation-Restoration’, in 25 Years School of Conservation: the Jubilee Symposium Preprints 18-20 May 1998, Konservatorskolen Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi, Copenhagen (1998) pp. 77–85.
LECTURE 4 From craftsman to conservator: catalysts and frameworks for multi-disciplinary training
Catalysts
* Stout, George, ‘Letters’ and ‘Section V: The aftermath’, in Robert M. Edsel, Monuments Men, Preface Publishing, London (2009), pp. 95–96, 277–279, 371–387.
* Coremans, P., ‘The technique of the “Flemish Primitives’”, in Issues in the Conservation of Paintings, eds. D. Bomford and M. Leonard, Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (2004) pp. 194–206.
€ Keck, C., ‘Salute to Paul Coremans’, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation 30(1), 1991, 1–2
Theory
* Brandi, Cesare, ‘Theory of Restoration, I’, in Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, eds. N. Stanley Price et al., Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (1996) pp. 230–235 (first published in Italian in 1963).
* Riefsnyder, Joan M., ‘Cesare Brandi and Italian Conservation Theory: In and Out of Context’, AIC Paintings Speciality Group Postprints Vol. 16, ed. H.M. Parkin, AIC, Washington, D.C. (2003) pp. 23–32.
* Philippot, Paul, ‘Historic preservation: Philosophy, Criteria, Guidelines, I.’, in Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, eds. N. Stanley Price et al., Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (1996) pp. 268–274.
€ Muñoz Viñas, Salvador, ‘Who is Afraid of Cesare Brandi?’ Personal reflections on Teoria del restauro, CREOART, June 2015.
Training and education
* Stout, George L., ‘Thirty years of conservation in the arts: a summary of remarks to the I.I.C. American Group in New York, June 1963’, Studies in Conservation 9 (1964) pp. 126-128.
€ The ENCoRE Document of Constitution, Drafted in Dresden, 9 November (1997), in 25 Years School of Conservation: the Jubilee Symposium Preprints 18-20 May 1998, Konservatorskolen Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi, Copenhagen (1998) pp. 201–203.
LECTURE 5 Conservation standards: conventions, charters and codes of ethics
Overviews
(A)Hatchfield, P., ed. Ethics and Critical Thinking in Conservation, Washington, D.C.: American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (2013).
* Sease, C, ‘Codes of ethics for conservation’, International Journal of Cultural Property 7(1) (1998) pp. 98–115.
* Muñoz Viñas, Salvador, ‘Contemporary theory of conservation’, Reviews in Conservation 3 (2002) pp. 25–34.
* Clavir, Miriam, ‘The social and historic construction of professional values in conservation’, Studies in Conservation 43 (1998) pp. 1–8.
* Hanssen-Bauer, Francoise, ’Konvensjoner om faste kulturminner: Norges forpliktelser og utfordringer til fagmiljøet’, Kirkearkæologi i Norden 8 (2006) pp. 115–122.
Charters and guidelines
€ ‘The Hague Convention’, Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1954
* ‘The Murray Pease Report’, Studies in Conservation 9(3) (1964), pp. 116–121.
€ ‘The Venice Charter’, International Charter for the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites (ICOMOS), 2nd International Congress of Architects and Technicians of Historic Monuments, Venice, (25–31 May 1964, adopted 1965).
€ ‘The Nara Document on Authenticity’ (ICOMOS), Agency for Cultural Affairs (Government of Japan), UNESCO, ICCROM, ICOMOS, Nara (1994). See http://www.international.icomos.org/charters/nara_e.htm
€ ‘The Conservator-Restorer: a Definition of the Profession’, International Council of Museums–Committee for Conservation, (accessed October 2010).
€ ECCO Professional Guidelines I/II/III, ECCO, Brussels (2002). See http://www.ecco-eu.org/about-e.c.c.o./professional-guidelines.html or Google ECCO Professional Guidelines for the link to the pdf.
LECTURE 6 Ethics and problems in contemporary conservation practice
(A) Hatchfield, P., ed. Ethics and Critical Thinking in Conservation, Washington, D.C.: American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (2013).
* Pye, E., ‘Reaching a decision’ in Caring for the Past: Issues in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums, James and James, London (2001) pp. 116–120.
* Muñoz Viñas, Salvador, Contemporary Theory of Conservation, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford/Burlington (2005) ‘Chapter 5: A brief excursion into the real world’, pp. 115–146.
* Clavir, Miriam, ‘The social and historic construction of professional values in conservation’, Studies in Conservation 43 (1998) pp. 1–8.
Restoration: an acceptable concept?
* Oddy, Andrew, ’Restoration – is it acceptable?’, in British Museum Occasional Paper 99. Restoration – is it acceptable?, ed. A. Oddy, The British Museum, London (1994) pp. 3–8.
* Richmond, Alison, ‘Review: restoration – is it acceptable?’, V&A Conservation Journal No. 15 (1995) pp. 10–11.
Reversibility
* Oddy, Andrew, ‘Does reversibility exist in conservation?’, in Reversibility – does it exist?, British Museum Occasional Paper number 135, ed. A. Oddy, British Museum Press, London (1999) pp. 1–5.
LECTURE 7 Writing histories for conservation
€ Streeton, Noëlle L.W. Writing histories for late-medieval objects: the engagement of conservation with theoretical perspectives on material culture, Studies in Conservation, 62:7 (2017) 419-31:
LECTURE 8 ArtWatch and critics of conservation
€ Daley, M., ‘Review: Who Cleaned the Queen’s Windows and the Lady’s Pearls?’, ArtWatch UK,
€ The Shroud of Turin: Meacham, William, ‘The “restoration” of the Turin Shroud: a conservation and scientific disaster’, E-conservation, the online magazine 13 (February 2010), 28–42.
€ Cleaning Michelangelo’s David: ‘Distilled water to clean David’, BBC News, 24 July 2003,
€ Sterling, Kristin, ‘ArtWatch Founder James Beck Discusses Restoration of ‘David’; Participates in Film that Screens February’, Columbia News, 30 January (2004),
€ Cleaning Leonardo’s The Virgin and Child With St Anne: Alberge, D., ‘Louvre's Leonardo was overcleaned, say art experts’, The Guardian (UK), 28 December 2011
Film (not in compendium):
James Aviles Martin, ArtWatch: The Scandal Behind Art Restoration, National Film Network, Lanham, Maryland, 2005.
LECTURE 9 Cleaning controversies and their implications
(A)Hatchfield, P., ed. Ethics and Critical Thinking in Conservation, Washington, D.C.: American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (2013).
* Hedley, G., ‘Long lost relations and new found relativities: issues in the cleaning of paintings’, in Appearance, Opinion and Change: Evaluating the Look of Paintings. Preprints of the UKIC/AAH Conference, June 1990,eds. P. Booth and V. Todd, UKIC, London, 1990. (Reprinted in Measured Opinions: Collected Papers on the Conservation of Paintings, ed. C. Villers, UKIC, London, 1993, 172‒178.)
* van de Wetering, Ernst, ‘The autonomy of restoration: ethical considerations in relation to artistic concepts’, in Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, eds. N. Stanley Price et al., Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (1996) pp. 193–199.
LECTURE 10 Ethical considerations in conservation of objects from archaeological sites and indigenous people
Guest lecturer: Douwtje van der Meulen
€ Augustine, Stephen.J.. Perspectives of an Elder/Curator on the meaning of heritage objects and why it is important to preserve objects and care for them in a respectful manner. In Dignard, C., Helwig, K., Mason, J., Nanowin, K., Stone, T. (eds.), 2008. Symposium 2007: Preserving Aboriginal Heritage: Technical and Traditional Approaches. Ottowa: Canadian Conservation Institute, (2007) 3-8.
€ Odegaard, Nancy. Changing the way professionals work: Collaboration in the preservation of ethnographic and archaeological aspects. In The GCI newsletter 30, no. 1 (2005 Spring).
€ Peters, Renate. F.. The parallel paths of conservation of contemporary art and indigenous collections. Studies in Conservation 61 (2), (2016) 183-187.
€ Sease, Catherine, ‘Conservation and the Antiquities Trade’, JAIC 36 (1997) pp. 49–58. (JSTOR)
* Walker Tubb, Kathryn, ‘The Antiquities Trade: an archaeological conservator’s perspective’, in Antiquities Trade or Betrayed. Legal, Ethical & Conservation Issues, ed. K.W. Tubb, Archetype, London (1995) pp. 256–263.
€ Zamir, Einav, The conservaton laundering of illicit antiquities. ArtWatch UK online.( 2015)
€ Odegaard, Nancy, Jeffery, R. B. , Bott, Suzanne, Rawan, Aatifa, Professional Education for Afghan Cultural Heritage Faculty. In ICOM-CC 17th Triennial Conference Preprints, Melbourne, 15–19 September 2014, ed. J. Bridgeland, art. 0305, Paris:International Council of Museums, (2014) pp. 8.
Case-study
€ Richardson, Heather, Taking the ancestors on a visit: The role of conservators in reconnecting a collection of historic Blackfoot shirts with the community. In ICOM-CC 16th Triennial Conference, Lisbon, (2011)
* Sease, Catherine, and Thimme, Danaë, ‘The Kanakariá Mosaics: the conservator’s view’, in Antiquities Trade or Betrayed. Legal, Ethical & Conservation Issues, ed. K.W. Tubb, Archetype, London (1995) pp. 122–130.
LECTURE 11 Engagement: War and the Protection of Cultural Heritage
€ Stone, Peter, Archaeology and Confl ict: An Impossible Relationship? Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, 11(3–4) (2009) 315–32.
Blue Shield International (October 2017)
LECTURE 12 Dilemmas and decision-making in conservation
(A) Hatchfield, P., ed. Ethics and Critical Thinking in Conservation, Washington, D.C.: American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (2013).
€ Taylor, Joel, ‘Improving reliability in collection condition surveys by utilizing training and decision guides’, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation (2017) DOI: 10.1080/01971360.2017.1315512
* de Jonge, Piet, ‘The Unexpected Life of a Total Loss’, in Modern Art: Who Cares? An interdisciplinary research project and an international symposium on the conservation of modern and contemporary art, eds. I. Hummelen and D. Sillé, The Foundation for the Conservation of Modern Art and the Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage, Amsterdam (1999) pp. 137–141.
* Bracker, Alison and Barker, Rachel, ‘Relic or release: defining and documenting the physical and aesthetic death of contemporary works of art’, in ICOM-CC Preprints, 14th Triennial Meeting, The Hague, 12-16 September 2005, ed. I. Verger, Vol. 2, James & James, London (2005) pp. 1009–1015.
* Brajer, Isabelle, ‘Dilemmas in the restoration of wall paintings: conflicts between ethics, aesthetics, functions and values illustrated by examples from Denmark’, Die Kunst der Restaurierung. Entwicklungen und Tendenzen der Restaurierungsästhetick in Europa, ed. U. Schädler-Saub, Bayerisches National Museum & ICOMOS, Munich (2003) pp. 123–140.
* Klokkernes, T., and Olli, A.M., ‘Understanding museum artifacts: the role of tradition bearers and material analysis in investigating skin processing technology’, in Proceedings of Symposium: Preserving Aboriginal Heritage: Technical and Traditional Approaches, eds. C. Dignard, K. Helwig, J. Mason, K. Nanowin and and T. Stone, Canadian Conservation Institute, Ottawa (2008) pp. 109–114.
€ Muir, K., ‘Approaches to the reintegration of paint loss: theory and practice in the conservation of easel paintings’, Studies in Conservation 54 (2009) pp. 19‒28.