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Restoring the charm of Fr. Gama's paintings

Life is returning to the paintings of Fr. Gama. Six decades ago, Fr. Gama, an Italian painter, reached India.

The deep impressions the Holy Bible had left on him found expression in the form of oil paintings.

No one knows the exact number of paintings he had done while in India. Little is also known about the fate of most of the paintings. But five have reached the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate church, Kakkanad.

Predictably, time has taken its toll on them. The 66 years has deposited layers of dust and carbon soot on the paintings. The charm of the paintings has started to fade.

Yet, they tell us about the unique technique of application of colour and execution of the painting.

At the Mural Painting Conservation Research and Training Centre functioning from the Hill Palace Museum, attempts are being made to restore these paintings.

St. Joseph with child Jesus, Holy Mass at Emmaus after resurrection, marriage function at Cana, Jesus feeding 5000 men with five loaves of bread and Mother Mary and child Jesus with Thressia of Avila and Little Thressia of Lissue are the paintings that have come for restoration.

The deposit of dust and carbon soot will have to be removed, says Aravind Kumar, coordinator of the Centre.

The original colours will be restored with the completion of the conservation programme, he assured.

The Centre had earlier restored a painting of Raja Ravi Varma.

K.S. Sudhi

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