m.restStatues

RESTORATION OF STATUES

In this section we find some images of restored devotional statues, usually made in polychrome plaster, but also in other materials.

The basic idea that drives me to carry out the restoration, bearing in mind that usually they are not works of very high historical value, but above all have the task of helping the faithful in prayer (therefore it is not necessary to operate on the restoration in a strict conservative sense) can be summarized in two parts:

1) Trying to bring to light the original idea of the first executor, going to "explore" under the dust, the carbon black, and, often, also the interventions already carried out by others, the original colors and the original modelling.

1) 2) Often, after the various repairs carried out with a specific plaster and the modeling work to reconstruct the missing parts, and perhaps after having removed the paints added over time with a long job of "elbow grease", I have to repaint everything or almost everything, because it is no longer possible to bring the original colors back to their initial brilliance; obviously trying to repaint with the same colors or with a harmonious color range.

But what matters most to me is trying to restore life and dignity to Saints who have taken on a sad and heavy air over time. In some way I try to bring out the specific character of that Saint, the light of faith in his eyes in order to better convey it to the faithful who pray.

SAINT THERESINE OF LISIEUX