Cultural Heritage department retrieves polychrome liturgical artwork voluntarily handed over by private

Andorra's Cultural Heritage department has recovered an 18th-century altar frontal from the Roser Chapel in the Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria parish church in La Massana, a polychrome liturgical piece considered lost since the mid-20th century. The government detailed the recovery in a statement released on Monday, noting that a private individual contacted officials to report possession of the item and voluntarily handed it over.

Authorities confirmed the frontal's origin—featuring a central depiction of Our Lady of the Roser—by matching it to an old photograph held in the National Archive. The piece is in good overall condition, showing limited polychrome losses or lifting, though it bears significant surface dirt and numerous wax stains that restorers will treat. Typical of 18th-century Andorran church art, it uses stencilled motifs with incised outlines in blue, red, ochre-yellow, and green over an exposed white ground layer.

The church's original altar frontals, including at least four from its side chapels, were removed during late-1950s renovations and replaced with new versions. Their fate remained unknown until this recovery. The department has committed to restoring the frontal and assessing whether to reinstall it in its original spot.

This is the second such recovery in 2025. In June, officials accepted a ciborium from the Sant Germà i Sant Julià parish church in Sant Julià de Lòria via a formal donation contract with another private individual. The item had been passed by the parish rector to a collaborator late in the 20th century. The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports approved the transfer given its cultural value, allowing for its preservation, research, and potential display.

A comprehensive 2003 restoration at the La Massana church removed the 1950s replacements—made on potentially toxic urolith panels—and installed fabric versions with brocade patterns.

Government officials commended the donors' actions as demonstrations of civic responsibility, underscoring their role in protecting cultural heritage for study, conservation, and future generations.