When we go up to the Virgin throne, right at the feet of the Holy Image, we find two vestibules flanking the throne of the Virgin Mary. The wall paintings were made by Josep Obiols between 1943 and 1951, using the fresco technique, combining it with acrylic paint.
The first vestibule, before ascending to the Throne, is presided over by a Christ Pantrocrator, while the second, after descending, is presided over by an image of Our Lady of Montserrat.
The traffic of pilgrims, changes in temperature and humidity as well as the inevitable passage of time... all these factors have caused the paintings to gradually lose the light and tonalities of the colors of the work that left us the artist
For all this, this 2024 we have started the restoration work that will allow us to see the wall paintings again with their original colours, shades and nuances.
The paintings before the restoration work
The dome of Virgin's Chapel presents the apotheosis of the Virgin of Montserrat, painted by Josep Llimona in 1898, it is one of the peaks of Catalan modernist painting, in which nature, history and the supernatural world are they harmonize forming an authentic symphony that uplifts the spirit. They were painted on canvas and adhered to the surface of the dome.
Llimona conceived the painting as an apotheosis, in which ecclesiastical and civil Catalonia pays homage to the Virgin of Montserrat. On the right side, the pilgrim saints are on their way, the last of whom was Fr. Claret, but later the portrait of Bishop Torras i Bages was added. On the left side parade the shepherds who found the image, the kings of Aragon, the poets, the Council of Cent of Barcelona, a young couple and singing girls, and at the end of everything, covering their faces with a veil, the giving At the beginning and at the end there are two symbolic figures: first an angel of peace with outstretched arms carrying olive branches; at the end, Saint George slaying the dragon. The Virgin Mary is in the centre of the dome receiving the prayers of the pilgrims who reach her heavenly throne through the hands of the angels.
Currently, these paintings are very dark and many of the details are difficult to see. The restoration, consisting of cleaning, will allow you to see the painting again in its maximum expression.
The restoration of the paintings is carried out by a team of professional conservators-restorers, with the support of scientific staff, photographers, and experts in digitizing heritage in 3D.
The tasks that are carried out, both in the chapel and in the forecourts, are:
- Removal of surface dirt and dust deposits.
- Removal of layers of varnish which, due to their aging, alter the aesthetic perception of the works.
- Identification of possible losses of the pictorial layer.
- Mechanical removal of added materials such as obsolete installations or previous repairs.
- Consolidation of materials.
- Reimbursement of possible losses from the works, applying minimum intervention criteria.
The restoration begins with an initial phase of planning and study:
- Study with scientific photography, to obtain detailed information on the state of conservation of the works.
- Analytical studies with sampling, to identify the materials used by the artists and the various techniques used.
- 3D digitization, to be able to study in detail the surface geometry of the work and generate the planimetric support.
- Cleaning tests, in order to check that they do not affect the paintings and that the best results are obtained.
Once this initial phase is concluded, the actual restoration work begins:
- Cleaning of the surface, to remove everything that alters the original paintings.
- Extraction of added materials.
- Varnish removal and interventions of other restorations.
- Consolidation of materials.
- Reintegration of losses
Montserrat is possible because throughout its thousand years of history it has had the support of people, companies, and institutions. Montserrat is the sum of wills that through spirituality, music, culture and nature foster a society based on peace, respect, brotherhood and harmony.
Being a Friend of Montserrat means supporting the Museum, the Library, the Scriptorium, the Escolania and many other projects that make the history of Montserrat possible. Do you want to be part of it?
In addition, being a Friend of Montserrat allows you to enjoy the card that will give you discounts in Montserrat shops, hotels and restaurants and at the zip line, among other benefits and bonuses. Consult the benefits of being part of the Friends of Montserrat.
Thank you for joining the history of Montserrat.
The Milliarium Montserrat 1025 – 2025 project has been recognized as an event of exceptional public interest and, therefore, enjoys an advantageous tax system for the people involved.
Share photos of the restoration work with #CambrilMontserrat and we will publish them here!
Última actualització: 16 January 2024