Arbore. History, Art, Restauration

Abstract

Part of the group of Moldavian Churches with Exterior Painting inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the church at Arbore is probably the monument with the most beautiful mural painting in the region. And yet, Arbore remains far too little known in relation to its true value.

Distinctive in style and remarkable for its chromatic richness, the exterior painting was, until recently, the only visible component. Recent conservation and restoration interventions on the interior mural paintings have brought back into view an ensemble long believed to have been lost, hidden beneath substantial layers of deposits and accumulations.

The iconographic program includes several themes that are rare, even unique, within the artistic context of the period.

The Arbore Monograph is structured in two parts:

• History and Art – addressing the settlement, the founder and his family, the monument, and its mural painting

• Conservation and Restoration of the Mural Paintings

The monument is examined from the overall ensemble down to the finest detail. The text is supported by iconographic unfoldings and more than 400 previously unpublished images revealed through restoration.

The authors are specialists and experts in art history and mural painting conservation, with extensive professional experience ranging from 15 to over 50 years.

Through this monograph, the authors address cultural heritage enthusiasts, specialists, monument administrators, and restorers at various stages of training, believing that each reader will find valuable and relevant information adapted to their interests and level of expertise.

Text in Eglish language.

Book published in identical format in Romanian.