The Restoration of Ancient Bronzes: Naples and Beyond

The archaeological finds at Herculaneum
and Pompeii have rendered Naples an especially rich field for the study of the
history of restorations, particularly of ancient bronzes. Bringing together the
research of an international group of curators, conservators, archivists, and scientists,
this extensively illustrated online volume examines the evolving practice of
bronze restoration in Naples and other European centers from the eighteenth
century to today.

Presenting the results of new investigations, this collection of essays and
case studies addresses the contexts in which the restorations took place, the
techniques and materials used, the role of specialists, and changing attitudes
to the display of these statues. Along with a rich selection of images, these
texts offer a significant contribution to the history of restoration and
conservation, providing valuable information regarding the evolution of taste
and museum practices at a formative stage of modern archaeology.



The essays collected here were written following a series of presentations at a
one-day conference, “Restoring Ancient Bronzes in the Nineteenth Century,” held
at the J. Paul Getty Museum on May 6, 2011.



Each illustrated essay is accompanied by a separate gallery of large-format
images to facilitate study and analysis.



Edited by Erik Risser, associate conservator in the Department of Antiquities
at the J. Paul Getty Museum, and David Saunders, assistant curator in the
Department of Antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum, this collection is part
of the Getty’s ongoing commitment to the online publication of scholarly
conferences and symposia.