The Story Behind our Lady of the Cape"Notre dame du cap"

Seventy years ago, some 400,000 people gathered in Ottawa for the culmination of the 1947 Marian Congress.  One of the highlights of the Congress was the arrival of the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of the Cape.  This statue was a replica of the (Vatican-recognized) Miraculous Statue at the shrine at Cap de la Madeleine Quebec. It toured more than 340 Canadian locations, and was seen by millions of Canadians from coast-to-coast.

In 2017, we were honoured with the privilege of restoring and repainting that original Pilgrim Statue which was brought to Ottawa once again, and now permanently resides at St. Patrick Basilica in the Nation's Capital.  (info at www.catholicincanada.com)

These photos depict several stages of the meticulous restoration and repair of the statue, as well as the creation of a new Pilgrim Statue from pure white to precisely painted in the style of the original.

Through painstaking efforts—ranging from cleaning delicate surfaces to re-establishing the artistry of her original finish—we restored her splendor. The transformation of the Lady of the Cape is not just a testament to skill at Brushworks; it symbolizes our commitment to preserving sacred art for future generations. We believe that every restoration tells a story, reviving not only the artwork itself but also the emotions and memories it evokes. This project remains a cherished chapter in our journey, one that reflects our unwavering dedication to artistic integrity and preservation.