“De Lawd is My Shepherd” Restored in Spain and Returned to the National Gallery in Jamaica

The Osmond Watson painting, “De Lawd is My Shepherd”, considered to be a Jamaican masterpiece, has been restored in Spain and was today handed back to the Honourable Olivia “Babsy’ Grange, Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports (MICYS) to resume its place in the National Gallery of Jamaica.
Making the presentation to Minister Grange at ceremony at the National Gallery was the Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica His Excellency, Jesus Silva.
Ambassador Silva’s assistance had been sought by the National Gallery to identify someone to professionally restore the painting after it was accidentally damaged last year November.
Professor Sanchez Barrega, a well known restorer in Spain was contacted by the Ambassador and the professor agreed to undertake the restoration himself free of cost as a donation to the National Gallery and the people of Jamaica.
Professor Sanchez Barrega, who was present at today’s ceremony, said he was pleased to undertake the restoration, describing it an intricate operation. He said he was thrilled to come to the assistance of Jamaica in this way.
The professor has expressed a willingness to train a Jamaican to undertake restoration at the most sophisticated levels.
Minister Grange thanked Ambassador Silva for what she termed, “this passionate cultural and artistic exchange.” She said the relationship between Jamaica and Spain was not based solely on the tourism industry but there was also a cultural relationship built on mutual respect and admiration.
According to the Minister, both Jamaica and Spain, “punch above their weight in culture – in music, art, dance, storytelling and in general a creative approach to life that is evident in all of their citizens.”
“De Lawd is My Shepherd” was acquired by the Institute of Jamaica and was one of a group of paintings and sculpture transferred to the National Gallery on its establishment in 1974. The painter and sculptor Osmond Watson, described as a defining figure in post-Independence Jamaican art, died in 2005 at the age of 71.