Restoration in the monastery: Art meets spirituality in Vienna

Restoration in the monastery: Art meets spirituality in Vienna

A remarkable initiative in one of the historic monasteries of Vienna recently promoted the cooperation between the contemplative community and young students. This remarkable event took place on November 27, 2024 in the Cardinal König-Haus, where the "cultural day" of the religious communities was celebrated. Sr. Eva Maria Voglhuber from the Salesians, a monastery on the Rennweg, reported on an innovative project to restore valuable works of art, which the monastery and the students combined in a special way.

The Salesians live in a baroque monastery, which was built by Kaiserin-widow Amalia Wilhelmina and houses various historical treasures, including large thesis sheets from the 17th and 18th centuries. These thesis leaves are significant prints that were once used for academic purposes and represent historical scenes and important personalities.

The works of art and its restoration

These valuable works of art were in an alarming state. "Unfortunately, many of these works of art were already damaged, there were water damage, and they were very yellowed," said Sr. Voglhuber, who had a long career in art and monument preservation before entering the monastery in 2020. In order to save the works of art, she motivated students from the Institute for Preservation and Restoration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna to participate in this project. Thanks to financial support from donations and the Federal Monument Office, the restoration could be realized.

The restoration itself was a demanding undertaking, which was carried out in several phases between 2022 and 2024. Under the expert guidance of restorer Andreas Hartl, the theses leaves were separated from their wooden frames, cleaned and carefully reworked in original baroque glass frames. This was not an easy undertaking, but required precise logistical planning and manual skill.

community and understanding in monastic life

The working week brought a surprising dynamic into the calmer lifestyle of the nuns. "At the beginning, my fellow sisters, who had been living here for decades, were irritated by this bustle," recalled Sr. Voglhuber. However, in the course of the project, everyone involved found the paths involved to deal with it and to maintain the balance between creating in the exam and active work. "The first suspension of the restored prints gave us great pleasure and now also shows how strong the community has become through this project," she added.

The students Aaron Ludescher and Marina Potesil, who actively participated in the restoration, reported during the panel discussion of the cultural day of the lessons that they had learned about life in the monastery and the connection between art and spirituality. This experience has not only expanded its perspective, but also strengthened the understanding between the different realities of life. Restorer Andreas Hartl summarized that the project made an intensive dialogue between generations and life plans.

The importance of this initiative goes beyond the pure restoration of works of art; She has brought new impulses to the community and illustrates how art and spirituality can enrich each other. Further steps to the restoration are already being planned, which shows the constant search for preservation and appreciation of art in a spiritual context.