Cartagena sculptures repaired in time for 2018 Semana Santa processions

The processions in Cartagena are the first to get under way in the whole of Spain

As Semana Santa approaches and thousands of Murcianos prepare to take part in the religious processions which will be held during the last week of March, there was good news for the “Cofradías” (or brotherhoods) organizing the Cartagena processions on Monday regarding the restoration of some of the statues which form part of the events in the city.

The regional government’s restoration centre has completed the repairs and overhauls which were needed on three of the figures concerned, those of San Juan, La Samaritana and the Ángel de Pasión. The first of these belongs to the brotherhood known as the “Marrajos”, while the other two are among the works of art owned by the Cofradía California, or the “californios”, and all three will be seen during Semana Santa 2018 in all of their glory following the work carried out on them.

Prior to the processions, though, the re-painted and repaired figures will be exhibited at the Palacio Aguirre in the city centre.

The figure of San Juan is the work of sculptor José Capuz, and was commissioned by the Cofradía Marraja in 1943: like many others which are featured in the Semana Santa processions all over Spain, it dates from the years after the Civil War, during which the collections of statues in churches and other religious buildings all over the country had been decimated. The restoration which has now been completed was made necessary by a discoloration of the saint’s face, while at the same time other minor damage has been repaired, and it is now once again possible to appreciate details such as the attention paid by Capuz to the painting of the figure’s toenails!

The painted wooden figure of La Samaritana was created just a couple of years later in 1945 by José Sánchez Lozano, and last year on Palm Sunday suffered severe damage when it fell from its platform during a procession. The hands, fingers and head were broken and dozens of scratches appeared in the paintwork, and these have all now been repaired.

As for the allegorical Angel of Passion, this is one of Sánchez Lozano’s later works, dating from 1966, and is made not only of wood but also with elements of plaster and textile fabrics. Unfortunately previous repairs had served only to exacerbate problems with these fragile materials, but they have now been corrected in time for the 2018 Semana Santa processions in Cartagena.

For more local news, events and other information go to the Cartagena section of Murcia Today.

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