Barcelona Cathedral has revealed the newly restored Cristo crucificado, a late 17th-century Baroque painting that has returned to its place in the Chapter Hall after ten months of careful work.
The restoration, carried out by specialists at the Centre de Restauració de Béns Mobles de Catalunya, has brought the canvas back to life, removing decades of grime, repairing a tear in the fabric and treating the piece against pests. The ornate gilded frame was also restored, ensuring the painting now shines with renewed brilliance.
Although the author remains unknown, the painting has been part of the cathedral’s collection for more than 350 years, arriving during the renovation of the Chapter Hall following the canonisation of Saint Olegarius. It was formally gifted in 1865 by canónigo Pere Roig Morell, a figure remembered for his eccentric portrait as a “living skeleton” in the church of Santa Maria del Pi.
Displayed alongside Gothic treasures such as Jaume Huguet’s Angel Custodio and Bartolomé Bermejo’s Pietà, the Cristo crucificado adds a new depth to the Chapter Hall’s unique blend of art styles. Canon Robert Baró described the space as “rich and powerful in iconography” and noted that its Baroque character provides contrast in a cathedral dominated by Gothic works.
Dean Santiago Bueno reminded visitors that restoration in the cathedral “never ends”, with other major works, including the retablo of San Bernardino, still awaiting attention. The project has also opened a new line of research to identify the mysterious artist behind the Crucifixion scene.
The unveiling offers the public a rare chance to appreciate a painting that had long been overshadowed by dust and deterioration, reinforcing Barcelona Cathedral’s role as a living repository of Catalan art and history.
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