Alice Hoppe-Harnoncourt: Le Guerre Napoleoniche ed il caso di Heinrich Fügerdirettore della Galleria Imperiale di Vienna (1806-1818)

    

Estratto dal volume speciale: STORIA DEL RESTAURO DEI DIPINTI A NAPOLI E NEL REGNO NEL XIX SECOLO. Atti del Convegno internazionale di studi, Napoli, Museo di Capodimonte, 14-16 ottobre 1999

The Napoleonic Wars and the case of Heinrich Füger director of the Imperial Gallery in Vienna (1806–1818)


The age of the Napoleonic Wars represents a particularly interesting period in the history of conservation at the Imperial Gallery in Vienna. Heinrich Füger was Director of the picture collection from 1806 to 1818. His correspondence with the responsible imperial office, the so-called Oberstkämmereramt, reveals many details about the events in the life of the gallery. We learn, how the paintings were packed before they were evacuated, in what condition they returned from their long trips, how they were restored and by whom; and, last but not least, we get an impression of what was meant by the word “restoration” at that time. Füger’s actions to restore the collection did not affect the paintings as much as the major restoration campaign initiated under the following director Josef Rebell