The treatise on painting by François-Xavier de Burtin (1743-1818) in the context of conservation and restoration of art in the 19th century
Abstract
The doctor François Xavier de Burtin’s treatise on painting, written in 1808, coincides with the cultural and intellectual transformation brought about by the Enlightenment movement and is a clear reference for the first specific texts on painting restoration that emerged throughout the 19th century. For the contextualization and recognition of the author and his work, his biography and literary production are considered in the convulsive historical, artistic, social and political context that transits between the Enlightenment and the early years of the 19th century, emphasizing his contributions related to conservation and pictorial restoration. His treatise on painting must be considered as a text of indisputable importance, which appears in relation to Burtin’s interest in collecting and after his visits to the most important European painting galleries of the time.
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References
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