“Madonna of the Rosary with St. Dominic and St. Catherine” at St. Margaret-Mary Catholic Church in Parkersburg. The painting was a recent acquisition by the church. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

PARKERSBURG — St. Margaret-Mary Catholic Church in Parkersburg acquired two pieces of art over the past few years.

One is the painting “Madonna of the Rosary with St. Dominic and St. Catherine” by Giovanni Battista Salvi, called Sassoferrato, (1609-1685), and the other is “Madonna and Child Enthroned,” a statue from the late 14th or early 15th centuries, was acquired in 2021.

Sassoferrato completed two versions of the painting. The first is at the main side altar in the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome. The recently rediscovered second version was acquired by St. Margaret Mary Parish in February.

Untouched for 400 years, the painting was purchased from Sothebys in London in 2025 and fully restored. The canvas is more than 7 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It was covered with soot and dirt after 400 years.

Simon Parkes Art Conservation of New York City spent two months cleaning the canvas and found the painting to be in exceptional condition for its age, saying it was one of the finest Old Masters works they had worked on. The frame was also restored over a two-month period by Lopez Restorations of NYC. The frame was stripped of the original gold leaf and new gold leaf was reapplied.

“Madonna and Child Enthroned” in the Marian shrine at St. Margaret-Mary Catholic Church. The likely 14th century statue was purchased from Christies Auction in London in 2021. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

The painting, blessed this past Easter, is in memoriam of Anthony Allawat.

The statue, purchased from Christies Auction in London in 2021, likely is 14th century. It was part of the project restoring and adding to a shrine in St Margaret Mary to the Virgin Mary. The St. Margaret Mary parish centennial in 2023 inspired the creation of the shrine.

The large rustic mosaic, “Christ of the Branches,” created by parishioner Marcella Blomberg in 1970, that graces the original apse, was an influence for the design. The famous painting, “Madonna of the Orange Tree” by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano (1459-1517) housed in the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice was the inspiration for the theme. The kneelers were constructed from the altar rail of the original church. The shrine was blessed by the Rev. J. Stephen Vallelonga in 2024 and dedicated to Sister Lillian Marle Sleight.

“Madonna and Child Enthroned” of parcel-gilt and polychrome on carved wood was formerly part of the Vittoria and Caterina di Capua Collection, in Turin, Italy. This piece has been associated with the work of the Sienese sculptors Ramo di Paganello (circa 1281-1320) and Agostino di Giovanni (circa 1310-1347). It was later attributed to Sienese master Angelo di Nalduccio (circa 1342-1389).The statue is in memoriam of Terri J. Haid.