Power over Monuments - architects and antikvarier in practical work experience

During the period 1850-2000 the Swedish Renaissance castles, created by the Vasa kings, have been subjected to restorations. These restorations have been carried out by official authorities, representing the bureaucratic organisation managing state-owned real estate in Sweden. During the period an official management body for the built heritage, a legal system and political guidelines for the maintenance have been developed. The field of restoration have been of importance to architects, art historians and conservators of built heritage in their process of professionalisation. The article deals with the changing views on history and art history among these professions, how these changes have influenced the actual restorations and how the aforementioned professions have strived for influence on the field of restoration.