La pinacologie de Fernando Perez et l’Institut Mainini : quand la science de la conservation s’implante au musée

Abstract

This article presents the scientific relationship between Argentina and France at the beginning of the 20th century through a little known story of two Argentinian doctors, Fernando Perez and Carlos Mainini. Mostly known for the creation of a research laboratory on conservation at the Louvre, they are very rarely remembered for the special science they developed, pinacology. By following the path of the two scientists, the author shows the influence of their original education in the fields of biology and prophylaxis on art conservation and the ideology of the laboratory they founded.

Keywords

• medicine
• science
• cultural heritage
• conservation
• arts