St. Isidor’s Chapel in Křenov was generally restored between 2004 and 2017. The reconstruction was finished by the restoration of the interior equipment. During the restoration, the themes of three pictures, conserved in surprisingly good conditions, were discovered.
Průčelí kruchty s obrazy z legendy sv. Isidora
The burial chapel of St. Isidor, established in 1707, is an important early Baroque building in the small village of Křenov at the Bohemian-Moravian border. The interior is decorated by figural mural paintings and stucco figures of saints and angels, with the central sculpture of St. Isidor in the alcove of the main altar. The decoration of St. Isidor’s Chapel in Křenov belongs to important historical, art and liturgical heritage of the Baroque era in Pardubický Region; due to the water leaking through the damaged roof, its conditions were alarming. The decoration was removed and stored in unfavorable conditions, which only led to further damage. The whole set was covered in thick layer of mold, the objects were infested with fungi and woodworms, and surface layers were falling off in big lumps. Several parts of the equipment were stolen or lost. In 2004, the village of Křenov received the chapel from the parish, and started the reconstruction process.
The restoration of the interior equipment was conducted by Josef Čoban with his daughter Hana, assisted by Jakub Kučera, Luboš Machačko, Petr Rejman etc. The restoration works were difficult and lengthy, the restorers had to remove vivid molds and fasten loose surface layers. Restored were the main altar with the sculpture of Father God, choir façade, vestry door, pews, four guild pedestals and lanterns. Some long-lost artifacts were found, and others were remade using historic photographs.
The choir façade contains three paintings on canvas; until recently, nobody knew that they depict. Only when the damaged paints and molds were removed, surprisingly well preserved paintings have appeared. Due to the investigation of Hana Čobanová who covered the chapel in her thesis, we know that they depict ten scenes from the life of St. Isidor of Madrid, corresponding to the chapters of the saint’s biography from 1673. Each picture displays several scenes. The first captures the key scene of miraculous plowing, when angels helped St. Isidor praying in the field; other scenes depict the miracle of water springing from the rock, and the scene with the donkey, the wolf, and the libelers. The second picture displays the miraculous scene of corn multiplication, bird feeding, and the story of Isidor’s pious wife Maria de la Cabeza. The last picture depicts St. Isidor saving the daughter of his master, Juan de Vergas, and in the background, St. Isidor saves his own son drowned in the well, and gives miraculous food to a pilgrim.
The results of the restoration is the reconstructed interior of the chapel that can be once again, after many years, admired by visitors. In addition to top-quality restoration work, the main benefit is the discovery of lost art relevant to the local saint, St. Isidor of Madrid, telling a story of the history of the chapel and its surroundings.
Nominated for the Pardubický Region by the regional center of the National Heritage Institute in Pardubice.
Hana Čobanová and Josef Čoban (restorers) were nominated for the National Heritage Institute Prize, category: Discovery, Finding of the Year.
