The restoration of Novohispanic painting in Mexico: from artistic practice to professional discipline

Abstract

This article discusses the history of restoration of the pintura Novohsipana that took place in Mexico focusing on institutions and state policies since the second half of the nineteenth century. It considers as a starting point the activities undertaken by the artists belonging to the Antigua Academia San Carlos. In this context, we will see how the need –almost emergency– to rescue and preserve the pictorial colonial heritage not only triggered the practice of conservation and restoration, but also the legal protection, study and research of this type of heritage. Conservation and restoration of painting was an artistic practice, involving experimenting directly on the works and applying empirical methods until the 1960's when it was professionalized and turned into higher education degree.