How a 15th-century fresco was reassembled from construction debris

In 1466, the fresco ‘The Mother of God with the Child Enthroned’ adorned the St. Sophia Cathedral in the Novgorod Kremlin. It was created by order of the local archbishop, Jonah, and, in style, resembles ancient Byzantine icons and mosaics.

In the 17th century, it was decided to restore the St. Sophia Cathedral (which had been built in the 11th century) and the unique painting disappeared. According to the Novgorod Museum-Reserve specialists, the painting was allegedly knocked down in the late 17th century during large-scale work in the cathedral.

"At that time, the floor level in the church was raised and the remains of the ancient painting ended up in the construction fill," say the Novgorod Museum-Reserve staff.

Fortunately, these remains were not lost. In 1956, archaeologists found some of them and, in the 1990s, during further excavation, other details were seen in the rubble.

For many years, restorers pieced together the scattered parts of the ancient painting into a single composition. Some lost elements had to be recreated.

And, in September 2026, the fresco took its original place once more.