Restoring of missed works of art: intention is not the only thing that matters

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Seville is above all below these days because The face of the virgin of the Macarena. For example, 17th century sculpture produced by a unknown artist and a countless value for thousands of faithfulis no longer the same. Meanwhile, After have subjected several touch -ups Between June 16. Meanwhile, 20, his eyes are a little smaller, his gaze is sadder, his eyelashes are longer and even his appearance seems lighter.

The Confrérie de la Macarena de Seville had in charge of professor. Consequently, restaurateur Francisco Arquillo Torres d ‘maintain the Virgin, but the result, as shown The reactions of the parishionershas been closer to restorationcomplete.

Around the church. Meanwhile, the cries and tears of hundreds of people gathered to visit the religious image transformed have not stopped being heard, while Social networks ignite Still restoring missed works art: intention the disbelief of users who no longer recognize an icon in Seville.

Among the comments. For example, there is even a theory that The sculpture has been replaced by another, and some Compare the modification to cosmetic surgery. Nevertheless, “We cannot treat a work of art as if it were a model or a toy,” said a surfer. Meanwhile, “I see a resemblance to Victoria Federica,” added another.

Times echoed the news and resignation of two members of the board of directors of theBrotherhood of the Macarena. For example, The result is a good faith initiative that could have ended without controversy if a technical committee. Meanwhile, theheritage authorities had been consulted.

As a misfortune never happens alone (nor. Consequently, in this case, a controversy), barely two days after the outcry caused by the new face of the Virgin of La Macarena, A trial broke out Regarding the restoration of another Sevilla Virgin.

Preservation restoring missed works art: intention of the author’s intangible work or rights?

It is in this case the Sculpture of the Sweet Vierge Name of Bellavistaproduced by the sculptor Luis Álvarez Duarte in 1969. Meanwhile, restored at the beginning of 2021 by Darío Ojeda Cordero. Consequently, Although the delegation to heritage of the Archdiocese des éville approved the repairs which were also supervised by expertsas Ojeda Cordero claims. Moreover, The daughter of the original author denounced the initiative four years later.

Guadalupe Álvarez Duarte brought a trial to the restaurateur for having perceived in the physiognomy of the Virgin of very. Nevertheless, different features Originals created by his father.

The lawyers of the two parties already work on the procedure. In addition, the dispute relates to the question of whether the preservation of the material support of thework can take precedence on the Intangible right to the idea of ​​the authorwho conferred it, as expressed by the complainant’s restoring missed works art: intention lawyer. Furthermore, If damages are granted, the complainant assured that she would give money to charities.

The cases mentioned above are more recent. but this is not the first time that a well-intentioned hand has decided to give a completely different one to aartistic work.

Here are the failed restorations that have become sadly famous Before the retouched face of the Macarena de Seville.

The phenomenon of the Homo ECCE – Restoring missed works art: intention

A work that no longer needs to be presented. This wall paintof the 20th century is in the sanctuary of the mercy of Borja. in Zaragosse, and is almost also known at national and international level That Riege de la Macarena.

We owe it to Cecilia Giménez Zueco. an octogenarian amateur painter, who saw theœUVRE DU PEINTRE ELÍAS GARCÍA MARTÍNEZthen professor at the art school in Zaragosse, in a somewhat degraded state and which has undertaken of catering work with the agreement of the parish restoring missed works art: intention priest.

The new features that Cecilia introduced with her brush were so far from the original work that they were first. taken for an act of vandalism against heritage. National newspapers have covered history and the rest belongs to history. The Internet has filled with memes and humorous videos. A phenomenon appeared, which has even been the subject of a BBC report.

The musical duo las bistecs made Cecilia. the “ECCE Homo” one of the main references of its musical genre, baptized “electro-degree”, in the song “Historia del Arte”, whose lyrics are read as follows:

“The phallus is fashionable in all museums. I have no more euros to see something as ugly (…) A woman has risen and has planted a pine, Cecilia is a man, Ecce Homo, is divine”. This theme is a Criticism of art historytold from a point of male view et justifies the action of. Cecilia as a way restoring missed works art: intention of giving a new meaning in the presentto a work that would otherwise have been ignored.

Cecilia has even inaugurated an exhibitionFrom his paintings, this time original and not restored. The fact is that it made famous the ECCE Homo de Borja and that it has become a pop phenomenon. She also created a precedent in the field of restoration failed. since all subsequent restorations have been described as “other ecce homo”.

Restoring missed works art: intention

Sculpture of Saint -Georges – Navarre

In 2018. the parish priest of the church of San Miguel de Estella, in Navarre, asked a local craft teacher, without any technical knowledge, to restore this statuette of Saint-Georges (Link in Spanish).

The colors used in an image that already has A naive aspect gave a Even more comical result And. of course, social networks were the first to express it, as well as the BBC.

The acrylic lifting of Saint-Georges aroused restoring missed works art: intention the indignation of the Association of Conservatives. Restaurateurs of Spain (ACRE), until a year later, a conservation workadequate gives the saint a form closer to that that he must have had at the time of his creation.

SANTA ANA SCULPTURES – ASTURIES

Redorio. a village of less than twenty inhabitants in the Asturias, will probably never know an episode as exciting as that ofappear in television newspapers Thanks to the creativity of one of its neighbors.

For María Luisa Menéndez. the tobacconist of this small town, three of the church sculptures were “hideous” (Link in Spanish), and she therefore decided to color them during her free time.

A figure of Sainte-Anne. accompanied by the Virgin and Child, a motherhood representing Mary and Jesus and an image of Saint-Pierre, all dating from the 15th and 16th centurieswere modified with the authorization of the priest of the hermitage of the village. The reaction of the General restoring missed works art: intention Directorate of the Heritage of the Principality of Asturias must have also been colorful.

The altarpiece of the church of San Xoán – Galicia

Two inhabitants of Alto. in the province of Lugo, found An old abandoned altarpiece belonging to the church of San Xoán. Without any knowledge of craftsmanship Or restoration. they decided to investigate and, using old photographs, they processed the work for a total value of 600 euros.

To choose the colors they were going to use to paint the work. they were also inspired byAn old altarpiece of a church neighbor.

When José Rozas. Manuel Tejeiro presented the result in the church and that The new appearance of the altarpiece has been made public, the head of the bishopric heritage department refused to authorize the initiative.

After the bishopric reaction. The neighbors defended their initiative And declared that the bishopric did not want the years of negligence of the Church to restoring missed works art: intention a work of art of great value be revealed in broad daylight.

The cherub of the parish of San Sebastián – Cantabrie

One of the reliefs of the eight angels of the main altarpiece of the parish church of San Sebastián de Reinosa. in Cantabrie, has disappeared and, in place of a figurine or a box ceiling, we find A smiling monkey in two dimensions. The imitation of cherub. with a triangular nose and a black spot instead of hair, could be the result of an exercise school in an art class.

In reality. this is a guide placed in such a way as to Do not let the plaster space empty that the original would have occupied. It is in any case as well as the parish priest of the church. Eduardo Guardiola, defended the existence of the caricature, because, according to him, “it does not matter”: “we can only see it restoring missed works art: intention with twins”.

Château de Matrera in Villamartín – Cadiz

Although the restoration project of the Château de Matrera. in The city of Villamartín in Cadizwas produced by the architect Carlos Quevedo as expert supported by the Board of Andalusia, the result has not been without controversy.

The public was not convinced by the new aesthetic destiny of this castleof the ninth century. which was even the subject of a publication in “The Guardian” or “The Times” and was criticized by several heritage defense organizations cultural.

However. he later received international awards such as the Architizer A+ price in the preservation category and the American architecture price in the heritage category or architecture. It is clear that restoration is never to everyone’s taste.

Figure of the Cathedral of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle-Galice

This last example is not a failed restoration, but a free transformation. In 2018. someone said that a figure of the facade of the cathedral of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle (Article restoring missed works art: intention in Spanish), dated from the 12th century, could resemble a member of the rock group Kiss and made the saint travel in the future using a permanent marker.

In addition to being an intentional act. so vandals On the heritage, it once again demonstrates the inevitable impulse to think of the heritage of the past under the references and the codes of today.