Each September, the faithful gather across the Hudson River from New York City in Hoboken, NJ, to celebrate the Italian Feast of the Madonna Dei Martiri. Since 1927, the highlight of this waterfront extravaganza of international food and music is the procession of a treasured statue of Madonna Dei Martiri through the streets.
Rohn and Associates Design was selected to restore the crown jewel of this annual feast, the statue of Madonna Dei Martiri. Madonna Dei Martiri, the patron saint of sailors, holds a special significance to the port town of Molfetta, Italy. During the 1100s, crusaders returning by boat from the Holy Land found an icon of the Madonna in the water. They brought it to the local hospital, where it became known as the Madonna of the Martyrs in honor of those who died of their battle wounds.
The treasured statue, crafted in Molfetta, required some TLC before her annual procession. Our artists reconstructed the broken fingers of the angels flanking the Madonna in wood and also repaired the brackets that keep them affixed to the statue. Additionally, they meticulously sanded, primed, and repainted the areas where the paint was cracking or peeling, precisely matching the original colors. Due to extensive wear and damage, the gold leaf bands and details on the garments were replaced with a lustrous 23k gold leaf.
The members of Society Madonna Dei Martiri, a fraternity started by Molfettese immigrants who brought the celebration to Hoboken 88 years ago, are astounded at the statue's renewed appearance. They consider it an honor to carry this 800 pound statue on their shoulders from St. Francis Church to a boat on the waterfront. The fact that the statue has been meticulously renewed will make this year’s procession extra special.
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