Article ID: CBB001450369

Dynasty, Archaeology and Conservation: The Bourbon Rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum in Eighteenth-Century Naples (2014)

unapi

The rediscovery of the ancient sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the eighteenth century attracted a huge response from contemporary commentators. Many of these, as well as almost all subsequent judgements from historians, are very critical of the Bourbon excavators. Charles, King of Naples, and his team of antiquaries have been depicted as charlatans, treating ancient artefacts and the sites poorly, interested in them only in so far as they glorified their kingdom. In this article it is argued that, with an understanding of contemporary approaches to antiquity and conservation, this verdict on the Bourbons seems unduly harsh. Their archaeological methods and treatment of classical art were typical for the eighteenth century and were, in some ways, progressive. In support of this harsh judgement of Charles, Winckelmann has been portrayed as a savage critic of the excavations; in reality he was kinder to the Bourbons than historians have believed.

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Authors & Contributors
Fernanda, Maria Ferrini
Dell'Aquila, Franco
Pierangelo Melgara
Foschino, Francesco
Flavia Luise
Di Lorenzo, Pietro
Concepts
Collections
Archaeology
Museums
Natural history
Earth sciences
Antiquarianism
Time Periods
18th century
19th century
Ancient
Early modern
Modern
Medieval
Places
Italy
Pompeii (Italy)
Naples (Italy)
Padua (Italy)
Lisbon (Portugal)
Netherlands
Institutions
University of Padua
Museum Boerhaave (Leiden)
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