Press Materials 2014

History, Technical Investigation and Conservation of the Retable of the High Altar of Tallinn's St. Nicholas' Church 2013–2015
This is a large-scale project which will last several years and is focused on the conservation of the Late Middle Ages retable of the high altar in St. Nicholas' Church. The retable is one of the grandest and best preserved northern German altar retables from the Late Middle Ages. The retable was commissioned from the workshop of the famous Lübeck master Hermen Rode in 1478, and it arrived in Tallinn in 1481. More than forty saints and biblical figures are depicted in the retable and its dimensions place it among the largest retables from the 15th-century Hanseatic cities.
Extensive conservation work was carried out between 1978 and 1992. The main sections of the retable were restored at that time, but the splendid sculptures are still only partly conserved. The conservators of the Art Museum of Estonia aim to complete the cleaning of the sculptures, and the conservation work will be accompanied by thorough research.
It will also be possible to observe the conservation work on site starting in the autumn of 2013. The conservator's workshop will be set up in the choir of St. Nicholas' Church; the history of the retable, and the progress of the conservation work will be presented in the form of an exhibition that will grow over time. The plans for the next few years include an international conference, books and other publications, educational programmes and workshops. A touch-screen installation will provide visitors with information about the history of this splendid retable, the saints depicted therein and their legends.

Team: Project coordinator: Hilkka Hiiop
Project team: Hedi Kard, Merike Kurisoo, Kaisa-Piia Pedajas, Tarmo Saaret
Research team: Hembo Pagi, Riin Rebane, Andres Uueni, Signe Vahur
Designer: Villu Plink

Project partners: Estonian Academy of Arts
Conservation Center „Kanut"
Estonian Enviromental Research Centre
University of Southampton
Tartu University, Chair of Analytical Chemistry
Estonian Tax and Customs Board