O Convento Franciscano De Cairu : Restauração De Elementos Artísticos = The Franciscan Monastery Of Cairu : Restoration Of Artistic Elements. -- ( Grandes Obras E Intervenções ; 2 )

Professor José Dirson Argolo, the author of the book is the leading responsible of the restoration of the rich collection of religious art, architectural decorations, tiles and furniture of the Franciscan Convent and Church of San Antonio in Cairu (Bahia, Brazil) since 2007. The convent was constructed in the second half of the 17th century and represents in the opinion of noted experts (including Germain Bazin) the earliest example of Baroque architecture in Brazil, a style that would flourish two centuries later. The artistic elements on this building assume unique role. The façade of the church of the convent (scenic, dramatic, illusionist, decorative)-presents the innovative features of the Brazilian Baroque that would be repeated soon in Franciscan churches of Paraguaçu, Igaraçu and Joao Pessoa. Located in a small town, tthe convent was speared large restoration work with few major alterations to its architectonic structure, which preserved its authenticity, although in the 19t century, some of its baroque structure were altered following neoclassic guidelines. "The author recounts the history of Cairu municipality and its Franciscan monastery, places its construction and existence into context, tell us of the population, the customs, the landscape and the local religious culture, finally to enter the universe of restoration and its newest and most efficient techniques. There he discusses the three aspects of which the art of restoration is comprised: recovery, conservation and discovery. Thus, we can observe throughout reading how a magnificent nave ceiling was recovered, how the features of a scacred image were maintained or how the team found a beautiful decorative painting that had been hidden for decades, under layers upon layers of white paint." --Page [247]