Historische Skulpturenrestaurierung

Kriterien und Techniken zur Restaurierung von antiker Plastik im frühen 19. Jahrhundert

Abstract

Historical Restoration of Antique Sculptures. Criteria and Techniques of the Restoration of Antique Statues in the Early 19th Century
The first art museum in Berlin opened in 1830. On display were paintings and antique sculptures. Before opening the museum, all sculptures to be exhibited were brought to the restoration workshop for general revision. All of them had been recently acquired or transferred from the old royal Prussian collections. In the workshop of Christian Daniel Rauch, German and Italian sculptors cleaned and de-restored a good number of sculptures and completed them. Scientific support was provided by the archaeologist Aloys Hirt. The restoration criteria were established with regard to content, aesthetics and techniques. Generally, all sculptures should be in perfect condition. Torsi and fragments remained in their incomplete state only in exceptional cases. Most of the pieces were completed in the course of their restoration. Incorrectly restored sculptures were derestored and newly completed following scientific criteria current at that time. Traditional ways of workshop organization, sculpture techniques and materials known particularly from Italy were used. Generally, additions were made of marble, sometimes of plaster. The materials for gluing and plugging were colophony, plaster, lead, iron and brass.