The Museum of Altamira presents a special temporary exhibition celebrating the centenary of Francisco Santamatilde's birth. This display highlights his critical contributions to documenting Altamira's famous polychrome ceiling through pioneering color photography. His impactful public denouncement in 1975 brought awareness to the accelerating deterioration of the cave paintings, directly leading to their first preservation closure. The exhibition features personal photographic items and documents, offering insight into his vital conservation legacy.
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This temporary exhibition at the Museum of Altamira honors photographer Francisco Santamatilde on the centenary of his birth. It highlights his crucial role in documenting the early color photographs of Altamira's polychrome ceiling and his public denouncement in 1975 of the damage caused by mass visitor influx, which led to the cave's initial closure for preservation.
The Museo de Altamira presents a temporary exhibition dedicated to Francisco Santamatilde, commemorating the centenary of his birth and recognizing his significant contribution to the preservation of the Altamira caves. Titled 'Francisco Santamatilde: el fotógrafo que salvó Altamira,' the exhibition delves into how Santamatilde's photographs, among the first in color of the polychrome ceiling, provided graphic documentation of the accelerating deterioration of the cave paintings. In 1975, Santamatilde's work not only showcased the nuanced tones of Altamira's pigments to a wider audience but also served as a public denouncement in the magazine 'Sábado Gráfico.' This public outcry marked a turning point in institutional awareness regarding the fragility of the heritage within Altamira. Santamatilde's efforts were the catalyst for the first decreed closure of the cave, a measure implemented to safeguard its art, which would later be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The exhibition features numerous documents and personal photographic items from the Santander-born photographer, generously loaned by his family, offering a comprehensive look at his role in advocating for the protection of this invaluable prehistoric art.
The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sundays and holidays from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Further details on visiting and admission should be sought from the museum's official ticketing information.
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