EMBELLISHMENT OF OUR ARTISTIC HERITAGE

Restorers without borders, in the service of our artistic heritage... 

It's on Sr. Graciela's initiative that, every year at the end of summer, the sculptures and paintings at Notre Dame du Refuge and Saint Bernard's monastery are the focus of attention. And so, since 2018, a team of restorers has been working to restore and conserve the artistic heritage of the sites, under the supervision of Nora Palmiero Martinez (curator and heritage restorer specializing in painting).

Although they hail from Barcelona, these restaurateurs without borders come from the 4 corners of the globe: Spain, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Panama and even Belarus! For some of them, it was their very first experience in Anglet, while others, seduced by this great project and the site's very special atmosphere, return every year to contribute their talents to the embellishment of our artistic heritage, so that it can be enjoyed by all, for many years to come...

A big thank you to each and every one of them for their time, talent and passion in the ongoing beautification of the Notre Dame du Refuge and Saint Bernard sites.

Find out more: Restorers without borders

This summer, from July 29 to August 12, Nora (Argentinian/Catalan), Adrián (Catalan), Jenifer (Catalan), Joan (Catalan), Manuela (Spanish), Mariona (Catalan), Marcela (Brazilian), Natalia (Belorussian), Simona (Italian), Sofía (Argentinian) and Sr. Graciela (Argentinian), all worked to restore:

• the 3 sculptures on the tomb of Father Cestac (plaster), located in the inner gardens of Notre Dame du Refuge: the sculpture of the Sacred Heart, the sculpture of the Virgin and Child and the sculpture of Saint Joseph,
• the 2 sculptures of Angels (wood), located in the Chapel of Notre Dame du Refuge,
• the sculpture of Saint Joseph (iron - stone pedestal), located in the interior gardens of Notre Dame du Refuge,
• the sculpture of Marie-Madeleine (plaster),
• the portrait of Mother Isabelle, Superior General - 1868, by M. Garay (oil painting on canvas),
• the portrait of Sr. Gracieuse Bodin (oil painting on canvas),
• the portrait of Father Cestac - 1868, by Feuillet (gold leaf frame, oil painting on canvas),
• the painting "The Descent from the Cross" (gold leaf frame, oil painting on canvas),
• a sculpture of Christ (marble), for which Joan Vissi García specially carved a cross (wood),
• the sculpture of the Sacred Heart (plaster), located inside the reception area of the Saint Bernard monastery.

Find out more: Restorations over the years

Under the watchful eye of a renowned visitor!

Kepa Akixo, aka ZIGOR, an internationally renowned Basque artist, photographer, poet, draughtsman and sculptor, came to visit the restoration team. 

In " Workshop life in black and white", he takes us behind the scenes of the workshop through his eyes of artist...