MULEGÉ.- A tangible piece of history has been lovingly brought back to life in the rugged highlands of Baja California Sur. A 17th-century painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a silent observer of the Jesuit mission era in what is now Mulegé, has been carefully restored and returned to its community. The delicate work, overseen by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), marks a significant moment for the local people who have safeguarded the artwork for generations.

The painting's journey back to its community on April 2nd was celebrated by state officials and INAH representatives, highlighting the collaborative effort to preserve this vital cultural heritage. For the Aguilar family, who discovered the artwork amidst the ruins of the Misión Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Huasinapí (founded in 1720), the return was deeply personal. Miguel Ángel Aguilar Villavicencio, the current custodian, expressed the profound connection his family has maintained with the piece for over eight generations.

Leslie Julieta Cabriada Martínez, the lead restorer from INAH Baja California Sur, emphasized the painting's unique historical significance. "The Virgin is the last remaining material cultural asset in that area of missions," she explained, noting that many of the original mission structures along the route from Loreto to Alta California no longer stand. This surviving artwork, therefore, carries immense weight as a direct link to the past.

The restoration process, a delicate undertaking led by a team of independent easel painting specialists, spanned from December 2024 to January 2025. Housed at the Museum of the Jesuit Missions in Loreto, the painting underwent meticulous cleaning and repair. Damage from the 2022 Hurricane "Kay" and the natural environment had led to a growth of fungi and instability in the canvas.

Restorers carefully removed the harmful microorganisms and replaced the aged relining, ensuring the painting's structural integrity. They also addressed areas of paint loss with a painstaking technique called "nutrido," using tiny dots to reintegrate color and texture, particularly on the Virgin's face, hands, crown, and mantle.

Despite its age and the lack of a signature on the damaged lower section, the painting's cultural value to the community is immeasurable. It serves as a unifying symbol for ranchers scattered across the remote highlands, who gather twice a year at the Capilla de Guadalupe in Mulegé for worship.

The successful restoration, followed by a two-month monitoring period to confirm its stability, ensures that this 'living' testament to the region's history and the enduring faith of its people will continue to be cherished for generations to come. While the artist's identity remains a mystery, the dedication of the local community and the expertise of the INAH have ensured that this piece of Baja California Sur's soul endures.