The Heritage Foundation and the Saint-Martin-Vésubie town hall inaugurated the restoration of the paintings in the parish church yesterday afternoon.
Rich in its cultural, historical, and natural heritage, the commune of Saint-Martin-Vésubie sought assistance from the Heritage Foundation and donors to restore these sacred works so dear to the people of Saint-Martin.
Located in the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Saint-Martin-Vésubie, the two restored paintings depict, for one, the Assumption of the Virgin, and for the other, Our Lady of Mount Carmel with Saint Simon Stock and Saint Teresa of Ávila.
These paintings are anonymous. Most works from the 17th and 18th centuries, intended to decorate religious buildings, were unsigned, likely due to the artists’ humility.
The paintings are contemporary with the enlargement and “Baroquization” of the building, which began at the end of the 17th century and continued into the first half of the 18th century. The painting of the Assumption of the Virgin corresponds to the dedication of the parish church and complements the former dedication to Saint Martin. It adorns the high altar and represents the major work of the edifice. It is likely somewhat later (second part of the 18th century) and represents the main liturgical feast of the village, linked with the major sanctuary of the Madone de Fenestre, with which it shares the dedication, and whose miraculous statue is placed during the winter at the entrance of the parish church choir.
The second painting is located on the southern side and completes the baroque theme of the new building by offering the faithful a more intimate connection with the Virgin. To this end, she, accompanied by the Child Jesus, offers the scapular, a promise of eternal happiness and protection, appealing to the mendicant religious orders (in this case the Dominicans) who were very present in Saint-Martin. It is noteworthy that this painting corresponds point by point to the one facing it (to the north of the choir), where the Franciscans are depicted.
