A specialist art restorer who worked on the Sistine Chapel in Rome is in Orkney to help revive artwork in the island’s famous Italian Chapel.
Antonella Papa, an artist from Rome, specialises in restoration work in cathedrals and churches and is working throughout April to restore paintwork by the front door which has sustained water damage.
The artist first came to Orkney several years ago and has visited regularly ever since and one year ago she visited the chapel for the first time.
The church at Lamb Holm was built by Italian prisoners of war during World War II by and was designed by Domenico Chiocchetti, a prisoner there at the time.
Mr Chiocchetti also gifted plaques depicting the journey of Christ to the church which were stolen in August last year, causing outrage among islanders and beyond.
His daughter, Letizia, who is the honorary president of the Italian Chapel Preservation Committee, organised three hand-carved replacements to be delivered to the islands in November 2014.
Attempts to recover the original plaques have so far proved fruitless.
John Muir, of the Italian Chapel Preservation Committee, said: “Antonella fell in love with the story behind the chapel and volunteered to come and spend a month here doing something for the chapel. She is a very fastidious person who is determined to bring back some of the original artwork.
“It is a tremendous opportunity. She is a very talented lady and it is a great boost for the chapel.
“CCTV cameras have now been installed at the chapel to make the building more secure and will be in operation very soon. Any decision being made to have a full time custodian at the chapel is still on hold.”
The Sistine Chapel is in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Rome’s Vatican City. It is most famous for the frescos that decorate the interior, especially the ceiling and The Last Judgement on the alter wall, both painted by Michelangelo.