Anales de Historia del Arte (Aug 2011)
“Pinares sin número”. Notes on the use of wood as constructive material
Abstract
The use of wood as constructive material was common up to the 19th century due to its availability as well as its physical characteristics such as versatility, resistance, flexibility or malleability. The constructive techniques and structural arithmetic of wood were known since Antiquity. This article deals with the important role played by this material in the main treatises on architecture, which included advise on the use of the different wood species. Special attention will be paid to the case of Spain between the 16th and 18th centuries. The impact of wood as a constructive material in altarpieces will be also analysed. This was common until the Academy of Fine Arts forbid its use in 1766 due to the risks it entailed, which could also be interpreted as a sign of the shift in taste that was being encouraged by the Academy.
