Our Lady of Assumption Church
A Journey in Restoration
Our Lady of Assumption church, located in Windsor, ON Canada, holds a rich history, dating back 300 years. The early wooden structure was founded by the Jesuits in the early 1700’s while the current structure was built in 1842. It is still filled with the original murals hand-painted by an unknown muralist.
Lori LeMare Studio has been commissioned to restore and repair a century old mural as well as the ceiling murals.
Lori LeMare Restores Century Old Mural
The current scope of our work is projected to take approximately six weeks to complete, completing a third of the murals. The remaining restoration will continue in the spring of 2024.
Adding a fascinating layer to our work, we have uncovered hidden paintings beneath the surfaces we are repairing. And even more intriguing, we discovered an artist’s signature.
An Old Mystery Is Solved
It turns out that the artist responsible for these art nouveau-style murals is Guido Nincheri, confirming the early 1900’s origin! This Italian painter, lived and worked in Canada and the USA. Nincheri is well-known for his stained glass and fresco work and has received historic significance by the government of Canada.
The Process
In October, our team (seen in the photo) started the meticulous process of cleaning and repairing the murals and stencils on the church ceiling. Given that these paintings are oil-based, we are primarily utilizing a dry cleaning method. In cases where the paint has detached from the plaster, we carefully remove flaking paint, consolidate it, and expertly match the color and sheen. For areas where the paint has flaked off and gold leaf is present, we diligently restore the underpainting colour and apply authentic 23-karat gold leaf. Although most of the murals are painted directly onto the surface, some are painted on canvas, necessitating a delicate approach during cleaning due to their flexibility and attachment to a cross brace.
From left: Tricia Cook, Diane Lokos. Gord Pullar, Lori LeMare