The Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH), under the Ministry of Culture and Sports, completed the restoration of the image of Christ Milostenia, the head of the Silence Brotherhood of Granada, and the work by José de Mora from 1688. Present at the event were Macarena O’Neill; Secretary General of Historical Heritage, Mar Sánchez Estrella; Territorial Delegate for Tourism, Culture, and Sports in Granada, Fernando Egea; the General Manager of IAPH, Juan José Primo; and the head brother, Enrique Dabán.
The intervention, carried out by the technical team of IAPH over a period of four months, addressed the main problems of the sculpture, which was at serious risk of losing its polychrome in the short or medium term. During the process, the polychrome layers were stabilized in areas at risk of detachment, and the polychrome was cleaned.
The vice-minister thanked the Silence Brotherhood for their trust in IHH for the restoration of «An exceptional baroque artwork, unique to José de Mora Bastano» Considered by many as the most mystical of sculptors in Granada.
Family photograph of the presentation of the Christ of Mercy after the intervention.
As detailed by the technicians, the changes related to the accumulation of dirt deposits and lack of adhesion were caused by the passage of time and the environmental conditions of the Parish Chapel of San José in Granada. The intervention by the institute’s professionals made it possible for this statue to regain its splendor, precisely within the centenary of the Silence Brotherhood of Granada.
The cooling image, owned by the Granada Archdiocese, is a polychrome wooden figure with purity fabric made with stuck fabrics. These works, on the other hand, were very helpful to deepen the knowledge of their technical excellence, especially in the configuration of the Giulgi. So far, differences in chemical composition have been known, but after this work, variations have been identified in the end.
Specifically, with this figure, José de Mora makes a special contribution to Spanish Baroque sculpture, executing a crucified model from the plastic and expressive values of Alonso Cano’s production. It also shows a very personal interpretation of the crucifixion, synthesizing emotion, classicism, and formal beauty for a devotional image. Rich in anatomical tones, the image is resolved with a dramatic force, due to the symbiosis achieved between sculpture and painting.
The work was originally designed to receive worship on an altar presiding over a funerary chapel. Its popularity was immediate and soon became an object of study and admiration. This is attested by the chronicles of the time. The current procedural function, every morning of Good Friday, was incorporated into the image later, in the 20th century.
The Silence Brotherhood in Granada had financial support from the Unicaja Foundation, Industrias de Cuervo, and Clínica dental ciega for the restoration of the Christ image at the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage.
The results of the restoration can be seen firsthand at the IAPH, in the exhibition hall of Iaho, at Cloers de Legos of the Cartuja Monastery in Seville from February 11th to 13th, between 10:00 and 13:00.