Un approccio interdisciplinare ante-litteram: l'Accademia di Francia e Michele Ruggiero nella Pompei dell'Ottocento

This contribution aims to examine the studies conducted in Pompeii by the French Academy during the directorship of architect Michele Ruggiero (1875–1893), focusing on the practical outcomes of this research through an analysis of the restorations carried out at the Vesuvian archaeological site in the second half of the 19th century. In particular, Ruggiero’s studies on the edifizi e le arti meccaniche dei Pompeiani, initiated during his earliest encounters with Pompeii, were further developed through the investigations conducted by the French Academy between 1881 and 1888. These studies marked a significant transition from antiquarianism to a modern, interdisciplinary approach to ancient architecture, influencing contemporary restoration practices. They also prompted new reflections on the conservation of archaeological structures, emphasizing the importance of material and structural components that, though not immediately perceptible, were deemed equally worthy of systematic study and preservation.