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The painting first hung in the Green Room
(Lutheran Chapel) of the Governor's house on Castle Hill. In 1843 the
congregation moved to their newly completed building (on the church's
current site) and the painting was hung behind the altar. Following the
transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States in 1867, by means that
remains unclear, from May of 1873, the painting
hung in St. Michael's Cathedral. During the 1966 fire that destroyed both
St. Michael's and Sitka Lutheran's buildings, it was removed for
safekeeping and for a brief time was back within the Lutheran church's
walls. It was mounted over the iconostasis in 1976 and came home to
the Lutheran congregation on June 20, 2000. With the encouragement and cooperation of many interested parties (many of whom are listed below), Sitka Lutheran's History Committee sent the painting to Finland in 2001 where Tannar Ruuben, Head of Art Conservation Studies, EVTEK Institute of Art and Design, Vantaa, Finland, has conducted a careful and thorough restoration, which became a doctoral thesis project for art student, Ms. Kati Huovinen. Others who have assisted this restoration project include Sitkan Jack Navitsky, researcher Maria Enckell, the Rev. Michael Meier, Professor Heikki Hanka, Professor Brian Magnusson, Professor David A. Hales, Toivo Harjunpää, Margarita Nikamo Coquette, Trudy Schenk, Ursula Kuettner, Suzanne Alskog, The Swedish-Finn Historical Society of Seattle, Sitka Lutheran History Committee members Dorothy Breedlove and Harvey Brandt, and, of course, Professor Ruuben with the Institute's students and staff. |
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According
to experts on the art of this period in Finnish history, this painting's
historical value makes it very special. In his conservator's report,
Ruuben noted that the "technique and materials of Godenhjelm's art have
almost not been investigated before. Thus the data revealed from this
technical investigation will contribute to further studies, which will
possibly be done on his other paintings in the future." Having a
Godenhjelm such as this one which can be closely investigated has provided
scholars and artists a wonderful opportunity to learn more about this
classic Finnish artist who's reputation continues to grow.Follow this link for more information on the painting and its journey home to our sanctuary. |
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In
addition to the people who become so much a part of the little
congregation's life, special worship furnishings also made the journey,
including the altar painting, The Transfiguration of Christ by
Finnish artist Berndt Abraham Godenhjelm (1799-1881). It was painted in
1839 while Godenhjelm lived in St. Petersburg. Pastor Gustav Zandt of the
Consistory of the Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, in correspondence
with Pastor Cygnaeus, noted: "The Company can be
pleased that the Altar Picture was acquired for a very modest price. Even
the frame alone according to the bill presented to us cost 60 rubles.
Therefore our countryman, B. A. Godenhjelm, is worthy of all praise and
honor."