The Travel Drawings of Fernando Távora: a few Brief Notes on their Exhibition and Conservation

Abstract

Fernando Távora was a renowned Portuguese architect who made significant contributions to the field of architecture, both in Portugal and internationally. He was known for his unique design style and his ability to seamlessly blend traditional and modern architectural concepts. Távora was a prolific traveller and used his travels as an opportunity to analyse and capture his surroundings through the art of drawing. His drawings, made with felt-tip and ballpoint pens, graphite and crayons, are highly regarded for expressing Tavora´s observations and reflections on the architecture and urbanism of different regions and cultures. In September 2022, the Department of Architecture of the University of Bologna, in collaboration with the Marques da Silva Foundation, hosted the exhibition “Fernando Távora in Viaggio” (Cesena, from 23 September to 12 October). For this exhibition, it was necessary to assess the state of conservation of the eighty-seven drawings, the colours present and the different types of paper used by this architect. It was also an opportunity to carry out conservation work and to place the drawings in acid-free passe-partout and boxes.

Keywords

• drawings
• ballpoint pen
• felt-tip pen
• paper conservation
• survey