Aloysius frescoes to be inaugurated on Feb 16

The awe-inspiring frescoes and canvasses on the walls and ceilings of St Aloysius College chapel and the college museum, ‘Aloyseum’ relocated in a spacious premises are now a visual delight to visitors.

The paintings have been restored by Lucknow-based INTACH Conservation Institute.

Rector of St Aloysius Institutions Fr Dionysius Vaz told reporters at the Mangalore Jesuit Education Society (MJES) Conference Hall on Thursday that the restored world-class paintings in the St Aloysius College Chapel will be inaugurated at 5 pm on Saturday.

“The Chapel will be blessed by Shivamogga Bishop Fr Francis Serrao and New Delhi based INTACH Conservation Institutes (ICI, Art and Material Heritage Division) Principal Director Nilabh Sinha will unveil the commemorative plaque,” said Fr Vaz.

The great grandniece of the Italian painter Antonio Moscheni, Silvana Rizzi from Milan in Italy will also be present, Fr Dionysius Vaz informed.

“Italian Jesuit Brother, Antonio Moscheni, a proficient painter trained in the famed Accademia Carrara in Bergamo in Italy, had completed the work of painting the whole church, covering a total of 829 sq metres, with exquisite frescoes and canvasses within 30 months. But all these paintings were badly damaged by rainwater seeping through the walls, dust, fungal growth and humidity,” Fr Vaz said.

He recollected that the paintings were first restored by specialists from INTACH-ICI, Lucknow, in 1991 under the supervision of Dr Agarwal, the then director of INTACH-ICI.

“On Dr Agarwal’s advice that the paintings need to be restored every 20 years, we had invited ICI Principal Director Nilabh Sinha to restore the paintings. The entire conservation work was completed within 18 months at a total expenditure of Rs 1.50 crore,” Fr Vaz said.

The illumination of the paintings was also replaced with special LED lights, he added.

Fr Vaz said INTACH specialists were keen on organising a workshop to train students in the art of conservation.

Fr Pradeep Anthony was also present during the press meet.