If a picture could tell a story…
The restoration of a 15-16th century altarpiece
MúzeumCafé 11.
The 15-16th century altarpiece The Coronation of Mary is an outstanding item in the ecclesiastical collection of the Csíki Seklers Museum. After all, the Csík Basin is noted for its devotion to Catholicism and its Marian shrine (Csíksomlyó). Some questions about the altarpiece have been answered after a long period of investigation. Although the origin of the panel is still unknown, existing records show that it came from the Catholic church of Csíkszentdomokos, a village 40 km from Csíkszereda. No wonder art historians refer to it as a unique work, since there is nothing similar in the locality. The stylistic features of the panel indicate a close resemblance to those of Salzburg painting. The piece presumably adorned the altar of the Csíkszentdomokos church from the moment of its birth or possible rescue, but when the church underwent Baroque reconstruction it was put aside, since its style no longer suited the surroundings. An extant letter written by Pál Péter Domokos to the priest of Csíkszentdomokos in 1930 shows that loan of the altarpiece was requested for the museum’s first exhibition, which was held in Csíksomlyó. The main figure of the composition in a gold patterned background is Mary, depicted wearing a whitish purple dress and kneeling in the centre, surrounded by six angels. Behind her the Holy Trinity is represented by the figures of three young men with identical facial features. The 160×110 centimetre panel comprises seven glued parts. At reception the paint layer was nearly all intact. There were discrepancies of various sizes between the sketch and the final work. Now, after several months of restoration, the altarpiece is on display at the ‘Rescued Sacral Treasures’ exhibition of the Csíki Seklers Museum.