Historic Site Events
Historic Paint Restoration: Uncovering Hidden Angels
A paint restoration project is currently underway at Old North to remove layers of white overpaint and reveal some of the church’s colonial-era artwork! Expert craftspeople are uncovering 16 angels in the balcony arches that were painted in the late 1720s and 1730s by congregation member John Gibbs. Visitors to Old North in November and December will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the conservation team in action and see long-hidden history being revealed.
Cheeky Cherub Tour: For the best views of the paint restoration project, we suggest taking our Cheeky Cherub Tour! One of our knowledgeable Educators will take you up to the sanctuary’s balcony, where you can see the beautiful 18th century cherubs in all their splendor. You’ll learn about the sanctuary’s evolving decor over the centuries, how this artwork is tied to the church’s religious identity, and what tools and techniques the conservation team is using to uncover those cheeky cherubs.
When: Tours only run a few times a day, so check our calendar and reserve your spot before they’re gone!
Tickets: The Cheeky Cherub Tour is $10 and includes general admission to the church’s sanctuary and award-winning history exhibit. Tickets are available online.
Note: Participants should be comfortable climbing stairs.
Online Speaker Series Talk: Uncovering Our Angels
Uncovering Our Angels: Paint Restoration at Old North Church
Live on Zoom
December 11, 2024
7:00 – 8:30pm
A once-in-a-lifetime paint restoration project is currently underway at the Old North Church in Boston! Expert conservators are painstakingly removing layers of white overpaint to reveal some of the church’s colonial-era artwork. By the spring of 2025, the team will uncover 16 angels in the balcony arches that were painted in the late 1720s and 1730s by congregation member John Gibbs. Thousands of visitors are flocking to Old North this fall and winter for a glimpse of the church as Paul Revere saw it.
In this online talk, we are excited to welcome Gianfranco Pocobene, the lead conservator of the historic paint restoration project at Old North. Gianfranco will discuss the techniques, tools, and technology that have allowed his team to penetrate layers of white overpaint to reveal the beautiful artwork hidden underneath. He will share photos of the newly revealed angels, discuss theories as to how the angels were painted in the 1700s and why they were painted over, and answer your questions about the project.
Throughout the year, Old North Illuminated hosts authors, professors, and other experts for Speaker Series events. In anticipation of the upcoming 250th anniversary of Old North Church’s famous lantern signal in 2025, this year’s Speaker Series will include talks that focus on revolutions — their origins, their societal transformations, and their complex legacies. We hope you’ll join us.
Our 2024 Speaker Series events are brought to you in part by Hub Town Tours.
