The restoration of the altarpiece of Santa Orosia in the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista in Illueca has been successfully completed. This project, funded by the Government of Aragón, has not only restored the splendor of this work of art but also revealed an archaeological finding from the Mudejar period.
Details of the Altarpiece Restoration
The Government of Aragón allocated 82,738.75 euros for the restoration of the altarpiece, an effort awarded to Estudio Zararte Conservación y Restauración S.L. The project, designed by Antique S.L. in 2024, included the restoration of the six canvases, their frames, and the gilded wooden perimeter molding. Tasks performed included cleaning dirt, removing oxidized varnishes, securing pictorial layers, and consolidating textile supports through grafts and patches.
The intervention also involved chromatic reintegration and a final protective layer. The frames of the bench canvases were replaced, while the originals were preserved in the rest of the altarpiece. The Director General of Cultural Heritage, Gloria Pérez García, and the Bishop of Tarazona, Monsignor Vicente Rebollo, presented the results of this work.
Archaeological Discovery in the Chapel
During the restoration process, a bricked-up oculus from the Mudejar period was discovered in the wall of the chapel. This finding was restored and consolidated with the financial support of the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage. However, the oculus remains hidden behind the altarpiece, which has been reinstalled in its original location.
Historical Importance of the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista
The Parish Church of San Juan Bautista, where the altarpiece is located, has been a Listed Asset of Aragonese Cultural Heritage since 2002. This temple combines a Mudejar construction phase from the 15th century with a Baroque reform from 1677-1678. The reform added a transept with a dome, vaults, and plasterwork designed by Juan de Marca. The altarpiece of Santa Orosia is a notable example of a Baroque painted altarpiece, provisionally attributed to the Zaragoza painter Jerónimo Secano.
