Topographical Art and the Rediscovery of Lost Landscapes: Understanding Ligurian Rewilding 1850–2020

This paper examines how useful nineteenth and early twentieth century topographical art can be as a source to help rediscover former cultural landscapes obscured over the last 60 years by ‘spontaneous re-wilding’. It assesses whether the analysis of images and comparison with present day landscapes and intervening historical maps may be of value in demonstrating the extent of landscape changes. The paper considers paintings of three ‘every day’ landscapes in north west Italy and the changes that have taken place over the last 150 years or so in three case study areas at Savignone, Andora and Sant’Andrea di Foggia. Can such paintings provide insights into forgotten and hidden geographies and generate ideas about how lost landscapes might be recreated? We consider whether the systematic analysis of different evidence for the same study areas allows subtle and deep interpretations of environmental change. We also consider whether such art can be used to improve landscape understanding and management.