As transformações sofridas pela Sé do Porto no século XX. A acção da DGEMN (1929-1982)

Abstract

This dissertation intends to study the transformations undergone by the See of Oporto in the 20th century, in consequence of the action of the Direcção-Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais - DGEMN (General-Direction of the National Buildings and Monuments). Thus, limiting our research between 1929 - the year of DGEMN's creation - and 1982 - the year of the creation of the Instituto Português do Património Cultural (Portuguese Institute of Cultural Heritage), to which the See became formally linked -, our main goal was to find out to which extent these transformations contributed to the present state of the Oporto Cathedral's physiognomy. After studying the Files of DGEMN's Archives - of Works and Administrative, Graphic and Photographic -, related to this Monument in particular, we were able to realize that in the origin of the transformations there was a vast number of interventions with a view to architectonic rehabilitation of the Cathedral's complex. In this way, we ascertained further that these interventions were of two different natures, resulting from the theories and concepts applied in the actions developed by DGEMN, a reflex of the changes that occurred at the level of the cultural environment around the consciousness of the safeguard of the Built Heritage. In this way, and till about 1946, a course closer to stylistic reintegration was followed, realized in restoration, really transformer of the Monument's physiognomy. After this date, the main option was to follow an action regulated by the principles of conservation, in other words, of maintaining the state in which the Monument was found. For both periods we kept always in mind that in the way of treating the Monument's surroundings these principles and concepts were approximately followed. In an unprecedented way the research we made also revealed that all this special attention paid in Portugal to the Monuments during the 20th century, in particular, had its origin in a cultural and theoretical environment that developed gradually in the city of Oporto, starting with the awareness action led by Joaquim de Vasconcelos and Marques Abreu and later extended to a larger group, yet still limited, the Nucleus of Oporto, that adopted the cult of the Monuments as a cause.