The Archival Sources of the Batalha Monastery (Portugal): Unique Collections for the Study of the Monument’s Restoration Work in the 19th Century

Abstract

The Monastery of Batalha is one of the most important Gothic monuments in Portugal. In the 19th century, between 1840 and 1900, it underwent extensive restoration work which significantly altered its features, as well as the memories of past monastic experiences. Despite the magnitude of the intervention, the work that transformed the former Dominican monastery into a historical monument of the Nation, was, however, subject to an exemplary, scrupulous and detailed work and management methodology. This was reflected in the production of an unprecedented documentary collection (textual, iconographic, object-based), mainly archived within the monument itself, thus allowing for a highly accurate reconstruction of the work conducted and an understanding of the criteria followed. By means of an integrated perspective, this study seeks to highlight these important historical sources, with particular emphasis on: their unique character in the context of the archives of Portuguese monuments; their role in the study of the restoration work on the Monastery of Batalha and in the history of monument restoration in Portugal in general; and the potential for interdisciplinary research that can be derived thereof, involving the latest technological trends.