Understanding Spanish Artistic Heritage: Protection and Preservation
Spanish Artistic Heritage: Protection and Preservation
The terms “heritage”, “cultural heritage”, and “cultural property” are often used interchangeably. They refer to the same reality: the significant manifestations and evidence of human civilization. Arguably, artistic heritage encompasses the artistic assets accumulated over time. A more recent expression, “cultural goods”, is gaining prominence. Previously, terms like “art object” or “monument” were common. Now, “cultural property” is used, encompassing documentary and archival heritage, literature, and contemporary creations.
The first international use of “cultural property” was in the Hague Convention of 1954. This UNESCO-sponsored convention focused on protecting cultural property during wartime. It emphasized the importance of conserving cultural heritage for all people worldwide, recognizing that cultural goods (religious and secular) are of great importance to a people’s culture. The convention also addressed archaeological sites, scientific collections, and archives. It covered buildings used to preserve or exhibit movable cultural property, such as museums, libraries, archives, and refuges for wartime protection. Immovable cultural centers, like the San Francisco Convent, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop’s Palace of Seville, were also included.
The Paris Convention of 1970 produced a long list of cultural goods and adopted measures to prevent illegal exports.
Spain’s Commitment to Heritage Conservation
In Spain, a 1926 decree defined Spanish art treasures as goods worth preserving for the nation due to their artistic and cultural value. An early initiative was the foundation of the Real Academia de Nobles Artes in 1773 by King Fernando VII, later renamed the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando. This academy aimed to control art projects, ensuring they adhered to its aesthetic principles.
A 1779 royal order addressed the conservation of past works and prohibited the export of art, including paintings, books, manuscripts, and sculptures, without permission.
In the 19th century, King Charles IV issued instructions on collecting and preserving monuments. This was included in the 1803 compilation, which listed objects to be collected, including those renowned for their age, such as Roman, Visigothic, and Arab artifacts. Rules were also established to prevent the destruction of public buildings with artistic or historical value.
World Heritage Cities in Spain
Spain’s current heritage legislation dates back to 1985. Since then, many properties have been declared World Heritage Sites. The designation of cities as World Heritage Sites has gained special relevance. An international symposium of World Heritage Cities was held in Quebec in 1991, leading to a UNESCO-protected network of such cities.
In Spain, a network of cities was established in 1993, initially comprising Ávila, Cáceres, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, and Toledo. Córdoba joined in 1996, followed by Granada.
For a Spanish city to receive this designation, the Ministry of Education and Culture, in collaboration with regional cultural administrations, must submit a proposal to UNESCO. UNESCO then sends inspectors to provide a report.