During the work to restore the cathedral in Stavanger, hidden treasures have appeared. The bricklayers were to check whether the lime plaster high up on the ceiling was firmly fixed. When they started pooping carefully they heard that it was hollow and loose. And when they removed a piece, two medieval angels appeared. One of the paintings that was uncovered in February. Photo: Odin Omland / news – Something like this has never been found before. These are 700-year-old paintings that suddenly appeared, says Anne Ytterdal. She is a painting conservator in the Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger (UiS). Anne Ytterdal, painting conservator in the Archaeological Museum at UiS. Photo: Odin Omland / news A unique censer The first lines appeared in February, and work is now underway to restore the two-metre high paintings, and supplement what is damaged. – These must stand out and be available to the public, says Ytterdal. The paintings are characterized by the ravages of time and fading, but they are still decipherable. – One angel swings a censer. Some other colors have been used, so we think both angels had robes, says cultural heritage researcher in the Archaeological Museum at UiS, Bettina Ebert. Cultural heritage researcher in the Archaeological Museum at UiS, Bettina Ebert. Here she works to highlight the painting. Photo: Odin Omland / news Painting of angels was common during the Middle Ages, but it is completely unique that they have now found an angel holding a censer. Covered up Exactly why the paintings have been covered up is uncertain. Cultural heritage researcher Ebert believes there could be several reasons. – During the Reformation, they did not want to show the angels, because they were linked to Catholicism. It may also happen that angels have not always been something you want to show off. She also says they may have been covered up because the paintings were damaged and had flaws. This painting is the best preserved, and you can clearly see a face and what is supposed to be a censer. Photo: Odin Omland / news – Great in welding While in one painting you can see that the angel is holding a censer, much of the paint in the other painting is gone. Ytterdal is happy that at least one of the paintings has been well preserved. – Angels were common in the Middle Ages. And you can see that he here is great at welding and has triangular eyes that look a little empty, she says. This painting is the worst preserved Photo: Odin Omland / news Restored for the 900th anniversary If you want to see these angels with your own eyes, you will probably have to wait until next year. Stavanger Cathedral will be rehabilitated in the run-up to the church’s and the city’s 900th anniversary in 2025. The restoration work began in 2015, and the cathedral is scheduled to reopen in August 2024. Next year, the cathedral in Stavanger will open its doors to the public again after undergoing a restoration process since 2015. Photo: Odin Omland / news It was Stavanger Aftenblad that mentioned the case first.
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Old paintings uncovered in Stavanger Cathedral – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
