On May 19, 2023, I published a post on this page titled “A SPEAK FOR ONE” in which I described a gift I received from a resident of Monforte: two uniform buttons, undoubtedly from students of the school.
Now we have a photograph showing a two Piarist priest surrounded by students, dated 1888, which allows us to date the existence of said uniform with photographic evidence.
J.A.G.
Where the two El Greco paintings once stood, poor-quality photographic reproductions were placed to fill the empty spaces. Now that all the altarpieces have been restored, these copies desperately needed to be replaced with something of better quality. The oil copy of Saint Lawrence has already been placed in its position on the altarpiece of the Holy Christ of Cioli, and the photographic copy of the painting of Saint Francis of Assisi with Brother Leo will soon be replaced by an oil copy on the altarpiece of Saint Joseph.
JAG
This work, of considerable dimensions (204 x 123 cm), is a portrait of José de los Ríos y Lamadrid, Bishop of Lugo, painted by Luciano Sánchez Santaren. It is currently being restored by the company TAU Restauración.
José de los Ríos y Lamadrid was appointed Bishop of Lugo on September 25, 1857, and died in Lugo on March 8, 1884. He is of particular importance to the people of Lugo because he obtained from Pope Pius IX the concession of a plenary indulgence for any day of the year, which could be obtained by those faithful who, after confession and communion, visited the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Cathedral of Lugo. He communicated this to his faithful in a pastoral letter dated August 5, 1867.
JAG
These days they are removing the scaffolding from the restoration work carried out by the Galician Regional Government’s Department of Culture, at a cost of over €550,000. This work was much needed, as water was leaking through the dome every time it rained. The problem appears to be solved, although it will require regular maintenance, especially to prevent the growth of plants, lichen, etc., which can gradually damage the dome.
The scaffolding for the elevator used to transport restoration materials and dome scaffolding elements still needs to be removed from the rear.
JAG
