“Disastrous” Restoration Of Church Cherubs Ridiculed
The restoration of a chapel which left the centuries-old cherubs inside looking like “stunned cartoon characters” has sparked so much outrage it forced authorities to close it down until it can be cleaned up.
The Santa Maria del Miron, a baroque temple in Soria built in 1725, underwent a recent repainting that has been described as a “disaster”. Historically white, its interior is now red and white.
But what caused the most ridicule and fury was the work done on its angel sculptures that have drawn comparison to the botched Ecce Homo fresco that was famously touched up by a cleaning lady 11 years ago. Locals say the final result is like something done by an art student in training or even by a child.
Experts branded the work as ridiculous and said it “cannot be called restoration”.
The Association of Conservators-Restorers of Spain (ACRE) described the botched work as an “atrocity” caused by “an intervention without professionals, without respect and without criteria”.
It is not the first time that a church in Spain has fallen to such botched restoration work with many making headlines across the globe.
The group has “asked for explanations” from the General Directorate of Heritage of the Junta de Castilla y Leon and has insisted that “protected real estate assets need authorisation from the Administration in order to be intervened. The project must be drafted and executed by qualified professionals under technical direction.”
ACRE has stressed that the work teams and technical directions must have “multidisciplinary teams to avoid these atrocities” and “an inspection that weekly assesses the progress of the work and does not allow disrespectful and invasive alterations” to prevent such disasters.
Although ACRE recognises that the walls of churches are not always white, as they have been repainted throughout their history, it insists that in no case are they “restored” in such an intense way as in this example from Soria.
Meanwhile, the Bishopric of Osma-Soria, which is in charge of the temple, believe that it is a “question of taste.”
It said that the result “was as expected except for the final finish of the angels on the cornices,” which it admits was poorly done.
Following the backlash, the bishopric announced Santa Maria del Miron will be closed until “further notice”.
The City Council has announced that it will open an investigation into the incident because the bishopric had only requested a minor works permit and not a restoration.
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