During the
restoration
work, the
pictures
will be
accessible
for visitors
on the
original 3
floors in
order to
keep them in
touch with
the history
of this
pilgrimage
site. First
of all, the
82 votive
pictures of
Sanktanna
will be
located on
the first
upper floor,
for which
the H.O.G.
Sanktanna
has already
promised the
necessary
funds. The
next step
will be to
move the
pictures
from storage
to the
second upper
floor to
protect them
from any
further
deterioration.
The museum
aims to
depict the
religiousness
of the
mid-European
cultural
legacy in
Maria
Radna.
The Inventory
The Votive
Picture
Corridor is
annexed to
the church
on the
ground
level.
Since the
beginning of
pilgrimages
in the early
18th
century, the
votive
pictures
displayed
here have
been brought
to Maria
Radna by the
faithful in
order to
redeem a
pledge. The
oldest
preserved
votive
pictures
stem from
the year
1858; in
total, 16
pictures
from the
19th century
have been
preserved.
Unfortunately
the votive
pictures
from the
18th and
19th
centuries
were almost
all
destroyed in
a fire.
However, the
custom of
donating
pictures was
revived soon
afterward.
An inventory
taken from
1996 to 1997
by the
Szeged
University
Department
of Ethnology
recorded
over 1,700
pictures.
Work Plan
In order to
restore the
Votive
Picture
Corridor as
an
exhibition
area, the
temporary
partition
walls have
to be
removed.
Then the
window
frames and
doors will
be repaired
and painted.
Finally, the
historical
cross
vaulting
which
fortunately
is mostly
intact, is
to be
restored.
The work on
this project
is scheduled
to begin in
the summer
of this
year. A
picture rail
will be
installed to
prevent
unnecessary
holes in the
historic
masonry.
Financing
In order to
make the
second upper
floor
accessible
for visitors
as well,
further
donations
are
necessary.
It would be
appreciated
if other
H.O.G.'s or
private
individuals
follow the
example of
the
Sanktanna
community
and make a
contribution
toward the
creation of
a Votive
Picture
Museum.
