The Restoration of Monuments in Portugal: from Athens 1931 to Venice 1964 Charters

Abstract

In Portugal, the restoration of monuments was directed by the General Directorate of National Buildings and Monuments (Direção-Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais — DGEMN) in the period amid the two world wars and, even after 1945, when Europe was being re-erected. This entity, centralized in the Ministry of Public Works, with its own section of technicians, will respond to the ideological objectives of the Estado Novo (New Regime) of António de Oliveira Salazar (1889-1970). The dictator himself has a particular commitment towards the actions of this organization and consistently exploits the image of the nation’s heritage under restoration as an example of the regime’s competence, commitment and effectiveness. His triumphalist vision of the History of Portugal, electing the heroes responsible for the nation’s golden moments, determines as prime targets for restoration the monuments from the past linked to these figures and facts. Thus, it is essential to establish an aesthetic and artistic correspondence between these and the historical time meant to evoke. This attitude conditions, from the outset, a practice of stylistic unity in the restoration of monuments. The departure from these ideological-political conditions was gradual, and the receptiveness to international principles was prompted by DGEMN’s affiliation to foreign organizations created after World War II. This came at a time when, internationally, the discussion of restoration attitudes was in the agenda.