TIRANA, December 23/ATA/ After several months of intervention work in the laboratory of the “Onufri” Museum of Iconography, there was completed the restoration of the “Dormition Saint Mary” icon. The icon of large dimensions, 111 x 68 x 3.2 cm, with an anonymous author, comes from the church of Prophet Ilias in the Përrua neighborhood. It is thought it dates back to the end of the 19th century.
This icon presented many problems: damage and lack of primer, mainly in the lower perimeter of the work, cracks and splits of the wooden support, abrasion of the pictorial film, oxidation of the varnish as well as deposits of stable dirt, wax, oil paints, paraffin, soot etc. All of these risked the degradation of the work by not making it possible to read clearly and completely the iconographic scene realized with a very expressive artistic spirit by the author.
After the restoration intervention, there was achieved the desired result, preventing its degradation and highlighting the colors of the icon, the freshness and grandeur of the work.
The icon certainly stands out for the expressive dynamics of the almost apocalyptic scene in the lower half as well as the dominance of red and the contrasts used.
This restored icon is now offered to the public of the “Onufri” Iconography Museum, enriching its collection. /j.p/p.s./
