Restoration work has begun on historical altarpieces, the pulpit and other religious artefacts inside the Virgen de las Mercedes church in Caraguatay, in Paraguay’s Cordillera department. The Ministry of Public Works and Communications’ Historical Heritage Unit (UPH) is carrying out the project, with oversight from the National Secretariat of Culture (SNC).
The collection represents the Guaraní-Baroque tradition, which blends European Baroque influences with Indigenous Guaraní culture. Deteriorating wooden elements, including two columns with compromised structural integrity, require careful intervention to protect this part of the community’s artistic, religious and historical heritage.
A meticulous preservation process
Specialists are dismantling and sanitising the various elements while preparing to remove the two weakened columns. This stage requires careful handling to prevent further damage and allows the team to assess the condition of individual components.
Each piece receives specialised treatment according to its state of conservation. The work includes strengthening structures, filling missing sections and restoring painted surfaces. These procedures aim to recover the decorated elements while retaining their original materials and historical authenticity.
Addressing structural deterioration
Deterioration within the wooden structures presents one of the project’s main challenges. Restorers are conducting detailed assessments to identify damage, understand its causes and determine the appropriate treatment. These findings guide decisions about which areas need reinforcement and how specialists can preserve surviving original elements.
The team also undertakes controlled cleaning and detailed work on the most vulnerable sections. Scientific analysis, technical expertise and craft skills inform the process, with each intervention responding to the needs of the individual piece. The aim is to restore stability while preserving the characteristics that give the collection its historical value.
Preserving the church’s artistic heritage
The interior of the Caraguatay church features Franciscan-influenced altarpieces and examples of Guaraní-Baroque art. Its pulpit, sacred imagery and decorated furnishings reflect the relationship between artistic expression and religious practice. Preserving these objects helps retain the character of the space in which the community continues to encounter them.
The project also seeks to support the collection’s long-term conservation. Maintaining the original materials and addressing structural weaknesses will help safeguard these works for future generations, allowing them to remain part of Caraguatay’s cultural and religious life.
Heritage and identity of Caraguatay
The Virgen de las Mercedes church began as a chapel in 1803 and became a parish in 1893. Its history places it within generations of religious life in Caraguatay, while its interior preserves artistic traditions that contribute to Paraguay’s wider cultural heritage.
For the local community, the altarpieces, pulpit and sacred imagery form part of a shared memory. The altarpieces, pulpit and sacred imagery have formed part of the church’s religious life across generations. The restoration seeks to preserve that connection alongside the objects themselves.
