Mary Lost and Found

Ever since I first came to Todi and saw it, I have wanted to fix up a shrine that's located in a little alleyway past the Duomo. Starting last year, I asked a local electrician buddy what it would take to at the very least fix up the terribly neglected lamp that was drooping from some wires (and remove the icky plastic flowers that had been there 30 years too long). Obviously, we would have to involve someone since we didn't know whether the wires were live, and so on.

After much investigating and asking around, inquiring of the priests, checking in with other people who know about the town, I sort of let it slide because it was going to require Comune permission that probably wouldn't be granted. Sigh. While I never gave up the idea entirely, it definitely slid way to the back burner.

And then.

Where did she go?

One day in December, I went into the alley, and the wooden shrine was g.o.n.e! I felt terribly, horribly guilty, since I was convinced that my asking around had drawn attention to the thing. Oh where oh where had Mary gone????

My question was answered only a week ago: a friend on Facebook posted a notice of an art restoration project, telling me that this was "my" shrine!!! There was a presentation of the restored piece to take place in short order, and they were planning to describe the next phases of the project. Very excited, I took my place in the museum's lecture hall (a beautifully frescoed room I'd never seen before), and was treated to the normal pomp and mutual congratulations, as well as a slide show depicting the phases of the restoration.

It turns out that Mary was painted by a famous local painter from the 18th (? Maybe 19th, don't remember) century, and framed in a shrine cornice dating from a few centuries earlier.

Our squares are directly below Mary,
and to her left.

The most exciting part? They're planning to redo the fresco, and are selling off squares of the wall to sponsors for the modest sum of 10 euros each! They're already more than halfway to their goal of 3000 euros for the complete restoration (of course, anyone who's interested can let me know and we can figure out how to get a square for you!)

I can't wait to see Mary back in her rightful place!

Doesn't she have a sweet face?

Love,

Alexandra

The exposition of the work

Poster showing the squares for sponsorship