The masterpiece, Mary with the Child on the Throne and the Six Saints, depicts the Virgin Mary seated with the infant Christ, surrounded by six saints including Nazarius, the patron saint of Koper, who holds a model of the city in his hand.
Believed to have been created in 1516 during Carpaccio’s time in Koper, the four by two-and-a-half-metre canvas was meticulously restored by the Ljubljana Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.
The project, which involved between 18,000 and 20,000 hours of expert work, has returned the painting to its former glory, revealing vibrant details lost over the centuries.
On 11th October, the painting was reinstalled at the side altar of St Roch, where it will once again inspire worshippers and art lovers alike.
