Jerónimos Restoration: 19th-Century Interventions

Restoration in the 19th century sought unity and legibility—sometimes smoothing over layered histories. The result is readable, but not always neutral.

🔧 What Changed?

• Façade cleaning and stone replacement.
• Stylistic alignments to perceived originals.
• Consolidation of loose ornaments.

🗣️ Debates

• Authenticity vs. coherence.
• Patina as history vs. idealized look.
• How much to re-carve when details have softened?

How to Spot a Restoration

• Slight color mismatch in replacement stones.
• Sharper edges among otherwise softened details.
• Documentation plaques or reports in nearby museums.

Heritage is interpretation—choices made visible in stone.

[^rest]: Documents trace philosophies behind interventions.