Andorra Recreates 16th-Century Sant Miquel Altarpiece for Centenary

The Comú of Canillo and Andorra's Ministry of Culture have signed an agreement to recreate the 16th-century altarpiece of Sant Miquel de Prats, marking the centenary of its sale and dispersal from the Romanesque church.

The project, described by Canillo's first consul Jordi Alcobé as a "recomposició," will install a photographic reproduction on a vinyl panel at the altarpiece's original location. This will allow visitors to visualise the full work attributed to the Mestre de Canillo—painter Miquel Ramells and gilder Guiu Borgonýó—dated between 1535 and 1540. Historians regard it as Andorra's finest 16th-century artistic achievement for its pictorial richness and technical skill.

In 1926, the Bishopric of Urgell approved the Canillo rector's sale of the altarpiece to Catalan antiquarian Josep Bardolet for 3,000 pesetas (about €18 today). Bardolet, who had previously acquired Andorran frescoes at low prices, resold it to the Costa gallery in Palma de Mallorca. By the 1960s, collector Joan March obtained the predella and the panel L’aparició del mont Gàrgan, while the gallery retained Caiguda dels àngels rebels. The remaining four panels—depicting scenes from Saint Michael's life, including Sant Miquel bisbe, Sant Miquel pesant les ànimes, La curació d’Aquilinus, and El miracle del mont Saint Michel—vanished.

The original sculpture of Saint Michael remains in place alongside a 1920s replacement altarpiece. Replicas of the three known panels and predella, now owned by the Government (acquired 1991) and Creand bank, currently hang on a church wall. These will be repositioned, with missing elements shown in black-and-white from historical photos to preserve authenticity, as Alcobé noted: historians prioritise originals where possible.

The Comú will fund, design, produce, and install the reproduction, while the Ministry provides technical advice from heritage experts. Culture Minister Mònica Bonell emphasised coordinating this with urgent church repairs, including water leaks, cracks, humidity, electrical upgrades, and wooden flooring. A diagnosis is underway, with tenders planned before year-end for work to start in 2026 or early 2027.

Alcobé mentioned ongoing efforts to recover or borrow a related 14th-century Gothic creu majestat from Yale University. Archaeological surveys around the chapel are also scheduled, building on past finds like 1700 BC pottery with stramonium traces. Bonell confirmed no structural risks, aligning the effort with broader heritage protections.