Gabriel Pippet Mural Conservation Talk at the Oxford Oratory (24th February 6.30 pm)
Polly Westlake, Senior Conservator at Cliveden Conservation, has been invited by the Oxford Preservation Trust to share details of her work and team members in restoring the lost murals of Gabriel Pippet. Fr. Benedict Manning will join her at the Oxford Oratory, where they will discuss this award-winning project, which received a certificate at the 2024 Oxford Preservation Trust Awards.
Fr. Benedict Manning will begin this special evening with an introduction to the work of Gabriel Pippet (1880 – 1962) and the iconography seen within the Oxford Oratory. Polly Westlake will then focus on the conservation of the murals. She will explain the techniques involved in uncovering the two large polychrome wall paintings that depict scenes from the life of St Aloysius Gonzaga, which have been hidden beneath modern paint since the 1950s.
This talk is a unique opportunity to hear from Fr. Benedict Manning about restoring the lost beauty of the sanctuary and to learn more about heritage conservation. It is also a chance to see the vibrant colours, gold leaf, and exquisite patterns of the paintings at the church, which are among the finest decorations in the Catholic Arts and Crafts movement.
Date: 24th February (6.30pm)
Location: The Oxford Oratory, 25 Woodstock Rd, Oxford OX2 6HA
Organiser: The Oxford Preservation Trust
Cost: £10.00 (Members of the Oxford Preservation Trust) or £15.00 (Non members)