Sacred Heart Basilica, Hanover PA

Conservation project carried out in collaboration with Evergreene Architectural Arts in Philadelphia, PA.

Challenge

The Sacred Heart Basilica of Jesus, the oldest stone Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. (1785-1787), required a complete conservation effort due to centuries of degradation. The main challenge was uncovering and restoring the elaborate original decorative scheme—including extensive Trompe L’Oeil, faux finishes, and five major murals by Franz Stecher and Gephart—all severely obscured by multiple campaigns of overpaint and damaged by environmental factors.

Technical Solution

The conservation and restoration was executed in two primary phases (Phase I: Main Altar, Transepts, Oculus; Phase II: Nave, Vestibule, Choir Loft), involving a comprehensive methodology for various materials:

• Condition Assessment and Testing: Initial tests and exposure windows were crucial to determine the safest methods for overpaint removal and to understand the original designs of the decorative elements hidden beneath subsequent layers.

• Stabilization and Adhesion: Areas suffering from water infiltration and structural instability were stabilized, cleaned, and re-adhered to the wall and ceiling surfaces, treating material such as polychromed plaster, wood panels, and gilding.

• Selective Overpaint Removal: The tremendous campaigns of overpaint were meticulously removed from the Trompe L’Oeil decorative scheme and the five major murals, conserving as much of the original artwork as possible.

• Infilling and Isolation: All areas of loss (lacunae) were carefully infilled, mimicking the original textures of the wall and plaster. An isolating varnish was then applied to consolidate and protect the original material from subsequent restoration work.

• Aesthetic Reintegration: The final stage involved comprehensive inpainting and restoration of all decorative elements, including the murals, faux marble, gilding, and the Trompe L’Oeil, ensuring seamless chromatic and textural reintegration to match the artist's original intention.

Note: All work followed the Secretary of the Interior's "Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties" and the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC) standards

The multi-phased project successfully restored the Basilica to its original 18th-century splendor. By removing centuries of overpaint, the intricate Trompe L’Oeil and decorative paintings—designed to give the space a three-dimensional aspect—were fully revealed, restoring the architectural and artistic coherence of this historic landmark.