Thanks to a donation from a generous Mission supporter, the Mission has contracted the services of Susan Brown Painting Conservators and display Art Installation Services for this possible preservation and conservation of a 200-year-old painting in Serra Chapel on Thursday, May 30, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
In the Serra Chapel there is a series of historic paintings that came from Mexico to Mission San Juan Capistrano in the early 1800s. The 12th station from this set is missing, but in its place hangs another painting.
This painting, much larger than the others, is also from Mexico from the year 1800, and has been displayed at the Mission for 200 years. The years of exposure to harsh environment, movement and neglect took its toll on all of the paintings. In 1973 Father Vincent Lloyd Russell noted the poor condition of the large Station of the Cross and commissioned a copy of the painting, created by William Maldonado.
This reproduction was then attached to the top of the original work, covering it, as the Mission lacked the funds to restore the original painting. The 11 smaller Stations of the Cross paintings were all examined and conserved from 2005-09. This larger painting remained untouched due to the expense and logistical difficulty of removing the reproduction painting to reveal the original painting below.
Following morning Mass in the Serra Chapel on May 30, approximately 40 years since it was hidden behind a reproduction, the original painting will be revealed and examined by the painting conservators, who will then propose a course of treatment. Serra Chapel will remain open to the public during the work. Visitors are invited to watch, though the entire process is expected to take several hours.
"Having never seen the original painting except in old historic photos, I am excited to uncover and see for the first time, this piece of early Mission history," said Jennifer Ring, Museum Registrar at Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Visitors are invited to bring a lunch and enjoy a discussion on stewardship options of the artwork with Mission Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams and Museum Registrar Jennifer Ring between noon-12:30 p.m.
Visitors are asked to observe courteously as the Serra Chapel is a place of worship and the work is being carried out with this in mind.
The event is free to Mission Preservation Members and free to the public with regular paid admission to Mission San Juan Capistrano.