In 2016, conservation-restoration interventions were carried out on a Christ from a descent that is exhibited in room 3 of the Museum, on the occasion of its presentation at the exhibition:  THE PILLARS OF EUROPE. The Middle Ages in the collection of the British Museum  (Caixa Fòrum Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza, October 2016 - October 2017).

Christ of a decline

End of the twelfth century

Polychrome wood carving

180 x 165 x 42 cm

MFM 650

It is an exceptional piece that would form part of a sculptural set representing the  Descent of Christ . The conservation-restoration process carried out has allowed the recovery of a good part of the original polychromy of the twelfth century, in terms of carnations and  perizonium,  and also of another slightly later polychromy. As for the supporting elements reconstructed in previous interventions, such as the right arm, the right foot and the toes of the left foot, they have been left more visible in order to improve the reading of the piece.

A preliminary examination of the polychromy has been carried out using level light, ultraviolet light and observation under the stereoscopic microscope. As well as an X-ray examination to see the state of conservation of the wooden support and determine precisely the added elements. Various analyzes of the pictorial layer have also been carried out in order to determine the composition of the different layers of polychromy.

The conservation-restoration interventions have been the following:

• Punctual consolidation of elements of the wooden support

• Fixation of the polychromy in danger of detachment

• Cleaning of surface dirt and removal of more recent repaintings, with the recovery of much of the original polychromy from the 12th century and another polychromy not much later.

• Archaeological type presentation that allows greater visibility of the polychromy remains recovered, as well as the support elements reconstructed in previous interventions, in order to improve the reading of the piece.