The MNAC proposes to Aragon to begin the transfer of the profane paintings of Sijena on November 17
The paintings are formed by eight panels and the operation would last about four weeks
-
CAT -
CAST
BarcelonaThe National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) submitted this Tuesday to the Government of Aragon a proposal for a calendar and work plan to carry out the transfer of the profane paintings from the Sigena Monastery. The document suggests that the work to effect the transfer could begin from November 17.
As announced by the Aragonese Minister of Culture, Pedro Olloqui, in October, the Government of Aragon authorized the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) to carry out the transfer of the profane paintings to the monastery. In July the MNAC had halted the dismantling of the paintings because it still did not have the approval of the Huesca Heritage Commission. According to Olloqui, the forecast is that the transfer will last about four weeks, so it would coincide with the week of December 15.
Dama i joglar en un palau i un lleó atacant un soldat
Combat naval entre una galera cristiana i una de sarraïna
Cérvol menjant fruits d’un arbre, lleó amb un home nu i un cavaller
Cavallers que surten d’un castell cap a la batalla
Combat de cavallers i un soldat atacat per un lleó
Escenes cortesanes i de batalla
Una comitiva de pelegrins i l’assalt d’un castell
Soldats defensant un castell i una cavalcada de cavallers
Dama i joglar en un palau i un lleó atacant un soldat
Combat naval entre una galera cristiana i una de sarraïna
Cérvol menjant fruits d’un arbre,
lleó amb un home nu i un cavaller
Cavallers que surten d’un castell cap a la batalla
Dama i joglar en un palau i un lleó atacant un soldat
Combat naval entre una galera cristiana i una de sarraïna
Cérvol menjant fruits d’un arbre,
lleó amb un home nu i un cavaller
Cavallers que surten d’un castell cap a la batalla
The profane paintings of Sixena, which are found in room 17 of the MNAC, are a set of mural paintings consisting of eight panels that, as a continuous frieze, decorated the upper part of the walls of a rectangular room located between the church and the cloister of the monastery of Sixena. As the MNAC has often explained, these profane paintings do not have the same conservation conditions as those of the chapter house and there are no risks that justify not returning them.
The vicissitudes of the dismantling
The first step will be the aerial dismantling. Since the pieces are exhibited at a height of 4.10 meters in the MNAC halls, lifting platforms of up to 6 meters will be used to maneuver the works while maintaining their current position and orientation in order to avoid structural alterations, according to Olloqui. Once lowered, a detailed examination will be necessary to apply consolidation treatments in the areas that show detachment of the pictorial layer.
Afterwards, the works will be packed and transported in a 30-cubic-meter vehicle, with two drivers and via “previously examined” routes and accesses. As reported by the ACN, Olloqui highlighted that technicians from the Government of Aragon will perform the functions of “couriers” to “personally supervise each of the phases of dismantling, transfer, and opening of boxes.” The operation will not be considered concluded until these technicians issue final approval in Sijena. Olloqui also explained that upon arriving at the monastery, the boxes will go through an “environmental acclimatization process” of a minimum of 24 hours before being unpacked. A job that will last for two or three days. Initially, they will be deposited in a specially enabled rack area while waiting to be placed definitively in the area of the old dormitories.
