Vicente Poleró: painter, restorer and theorist

Abstract

In the mid-nineteenth century there was an important advance in the configuration of conservation of painting as a new discipline with modern criteria. In the present work, we focus on the study of Vicente Poleró, painter, restorer and writer, whose theoretical work is essential to understand the evolution and professionalization of conservation heritage in the Spanish context.

We make a study of his biography using his writings and some documentary news. He was born in Cádiz in 1824, but lived and developed his career in Madrid until his death in 1911. He was part of the Restoration Laboratory of the Royal Museum, performing restoration and conservation works and cataloging the collection. He wrote the first and most important conservation treaty in Spain, as well as other texts about museology, History of art and protection of artistic heritage.