The work of restoration and conservation of the altarpiece of Santo Cristo is completed. It is an anonymous altarpiece of carved, stuccoed, gilded and polychrome wood, from the first third of the 17th century in a classicist/mannerist style, whose image is made in marble by Valerio Cioli (1529-1599).
The state of conservation that it presented is not good, as stated in the project carried out by the restoration company TAU in charge of its restoration. Losses of matter originated by attacks of xylophagous insects can be seen on the support; misalignments of pieces and anachronistic additions such as a luminaire inside the niche, a modern altar front and the dimensional modification of the altar table and the stands.
As regards polychromy, it presented generalized blackening over the entire surface and a large number of wax drips, especially in the lower parts.
The sculpture, at the support level, was also covered in a layer of superficial dirt, and stains that darkened the marble. In addition, it presents breaks with displacements of the left pulse and arms, as well as the lack of two fingers of the right hand.
After the removal of the current front, it has been possible to confirm the existence of the original front. Its typology responds to the format of fronts that imitate fabrics with repeating floral decorations, all closed with a decorative frame, in this case with marbling in greenish tones. Part of the lower frame is hidden under a current pine wood flooring.
The main objective of the conservation and restoration works is none other than the protection and consolidation of the strata in danger of detachment; structural reinforcement treatment; disinsection; mechanical and chemical cleaning; sealing of cracks, holes and joints; and volumetric reintegration of the support.
A revision of the anchorages of the Christ and the cross was also carried out by means of an endoscopic camera due to the scarce separation of the bottom of the niche and the wall. After the revision, it has been possible to verify a slight unevenness of the cross forward that does not allow the arms to be brought to their original position, in addition to appreciating small loose elements on the wall just at the height of the anchors.
Although in principle it does not seem to present much instability, this area and the leveling of the withers will be further reviewed, requiring a partial disassembly of the rear part to reinforce the fastening points.
The original dimensions will also be returned to both the altar table and the stands.
