Palangos Švč. Mergelės Marijos Ėmimo į dangų bažnyčios didžiojo altoriaus paveikslas "Švč. Mergelė Marija su vaikeliu" : tyrimai, restauravimas

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Palangos bažnyčia; Altorinis paveikslas; Tyrimai; Restauracija; Church of Palanga; Altar Painting; Researches; Restoration.

ENIn summer 2006 an altarpiece from the Church of Assumption in Palanga, "The Blessed Virgin Mary and Child" (ca. 1646), was brought to the Pranas Gudynas Restoration Center at the National Art Museum of Lithuania on the initiative of the Bishop of Telšiai, Dr. Jonas Boruta. This was a seriously damaged work of art which has been renovated unprofessionally many times. The figures of Mary and Christ had been covered with a aluminium setting several decades ago. Fragments of the authentic, skillfully embossed, setting found in the church were brought together with the painting for restoration. "The Blessed Virgin Mary and Child" from the high altar of the Palanga Church was painted in oil on a 116 x 90 cm canvas. 2006-2008 the painting was restored by Jane Bilotienė, Rimvydas Derkintis, Jūratė Senvaitienė, Rapolas Vedrickas and Dalia Panavaitė. Until now, this painting has not been researched; its history, origin and importance in art were not discussed. Until its restoration, ornamented silver-tin settings covered the altar painting. Above the heads of the depicted figures, metal crowns were affixed, and on these, another new metal piece of decor (made in the second half of the 20th century) was added. Remaining information found in archive documents, research on the painting, and a comparative analysis of the painting with similar works (i. e. 17th century - 18th century the Blessed Virgin Mary and Child) found throughout Europe helped to explain the painting's origin, history, and prototypes.Research indicates that Palanga Church (earlier, Bochnia's Dominican Church) is the site of the former copy of Mary's image, which was called the copy of Czaestochowa's Blessed Virgin Mary's painting. It is the only known at present in Lithuania image of the weeping blood tears and sweating Blessed Virgin Mary and Child. The research and restoration of the authentic settings of the painting showed that they had been specially made for this painting the 17th century by a goldsmith based in Lithuania (possibly Žemaitija). This is indicated as a result of the painting's restoration and from remaining church documents. Although restoration and historical research on the work have not been completed, it is already possible to state that the painting is an old and precious church artwork. The painting and its ornaments - crowns and settings - is the Palanga Church's religious and art reliquary. It attests to the fact that the cult of Mary had been cherished at this parish, and such images reflect on the Blessed Mary's traditions of glorification in Lithuania. It is very likely that the work is a special gift to Palanga from the married couple Stanislovas and Elžbieta Vainai - and was a sign of their personal piety and a contribution to the strengthening of the Catholic faith near the Baltic. [From the publication]