WMF supported the successful restoration of the main altar, mausoleums, and sanctuary screen, as well as the reproduction of the alabaster statue of St. James (Santiago el Mayor), currently on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cloisters (MMA) in New York City. (...)
WMF supported the successful restoration of the main altar, mausoleums, and sanctuary screen, as well as the reproduction of the alabaster statue of St. James (Santiago el Mayor), currently on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cloisters (MMA) in New York City. The replica, which was produced by the MMA reproduction studios, be featured at an exhibition at the Reina Sofia Institute in New York in February 2010 before it is brought to the Cartuja complex for permanent display.
The last phase of work, completed in 2010, consisted in the conservation of the western façade which had, for unknown reasons, been moved from the north side to its current location on the west side in 1657. Over the years, the façade suffered damage, caused mainly by oxidation of the anchors used to accommodate the façade in its new space, the deterioration of the mortar, and biological presence in the stone. The cleaning of the façade ornaments revealed remnants of the original polychromy. The conservation work included the desalination of the polychromatic areas, followed by the setting of the polychrome and repointing of the mortar and joints in the façade.
