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Recently, we shared our renewal work at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, NY, which included the restoration of its cherished hand-carved Pietà from Oberammergau, Germany. This remarkable wood sculpture had suffered years of improper repairs and was marked by deep cracks that compromised both its structure and appearance.
Rohn & Associates Custom Studio Artist Victoria Cristina led the meticulous restoration. She carefully stripped away the failing finishes and used tight-grained German oak to fill and stabilize the fissures. The sculpture was then thoroughly cleaned and refinished with great care. Christ’s body was rendered in a lighter tone to gently contrast with the Blessed Mother, and His loincloth was accented with luminous gold leaf. Multiple coats of clear varnish brought out the original brilliance and warmth of the wood.
To give the Pietà greater visibility and devotional presence, Rolf Rohn relocated it from a side transept near the entrance to the cathedral’s adoration chapel. Framed by the chapel’s Gothic arches, the sculpture now draws the eye and the heart—visible to the full assembly as a powerful reminder that Christ’s crucifixion is not simply a symbol of sorrow, but one of love, sacrifice, and hope for all.
See the before-and-after transformation here.
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