Umberto Baldini
Encyclopedia
Umberto Baldini was an art historian and specialist in the theory of art restoration
.
He earned a degree in art history
with professor Mario Salmi, entered into service as inspector of the Soprintendenza of Florence
, and in 1949 became director of the Gabinetto di Restauro. In this capacity he was tasked with managing the emergency of the 1966 flood of Florence
that damaged many masterpieces. The result of these interventions consecrated to the world the techniques and methodology of the so-called "Florentine school" of restoration.
In 1970 he became the first director of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure
. From 1983 to 1987 he was the director of the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (now the Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro
) in Rome
and, in these years, he led the restoration of the Brancacci Chapel
in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence.
He then was named President of the Università Internazionale dell'Arte in Forence, and director of the Horne Museum, also in Florence.
Art restoration
Art restoration is related to art conservation. Restoration is a process that attempts to return the work of art to some previous state that the restorer imagines was the "original". This was commonly done in the past...
.
He earned a degree in art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
with professor Mario Salmi, entered into service as inspector of the Soprintendenza of Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, and in 1949 became director of the Gabinetto di Restauro. In this capacity he was tasked with managing the emergency of the 1966 flood of Florence
1966 Flood of the River Arno in Florence
The 1966 Flood of the Arno River in Florence killed many people and damaged or destroyed millions of masterpieces of art and rare books in Florence. It is considered the worst flood in the city's history since 1557. With the combined effort of Italian citizens and foreign donors and committees, or...
that damaged many masterpieces. The result of these interventions consecrated to the world the techniques and methodology of the so-called "Florentine school" of restoration.
In 1970 he became the first director of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure
Opificio delle pietre dure
The Opificio delle Pietre Dure e Laboratori di Restauro, literally meaning Workshop of Semi-precious Stones and Laboratories of Restoration, is a public institute of the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage based in Florence...
. From 1983 to 1987 he was the director of the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (now the Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro
Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro
The Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro - ISCR is a body of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities in Rome...
) in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and, in these years, he led the restoration of the Brancacci Chapel
Brancacci Chapel
The Brancacci Chapel is a chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence, central Italy. It is sometimes called the "Sistine Chapel of the early Renaissance" for its painting cycle, among the most famous and influential of the period. Construction of the chapel was commissioned by...
in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence.
He then was named President of the Università Internazionale dell'Arte in Forence, and director of the Horne Museum, also in Florence.
Publications
- Teoria del restauro e unità di metodologia (2 volumes). Florence, Nardini Editore, 1978-1981.
- Metodo e Scienza: operatività e ricerca nel restauro. Florence, Sansoni, 1982.
- Masaccio. Electa, 2001.