Restoration of a First Fruits painting - known to have been in the Herrnhut manor house in 1860, now part of the Unity Archives

What is to be done?

The remarkably large First Fruits paintings are among the most famous pictorial representation of the Moravian Church. They depict the deceased first baptised people of the Moravian Mission surrounding the resurrected Jesus Christ. Of ten known examples, four have survived. This one was in the Herrnhut manor house around 1860 and is now part of the Unity Archives. The oil painting measures 2.30m x 1.59m and dates from the mid-18th century. It is probably a copy of Johann Valentin Haidt's original by Abraham Louis Brandt (1717-1797). The painting and frame are in a poor state of preservation. The canvas is not intact and the painting surface is flaking and is heavily darkened due to the use of varnish.

Why do we need your donation?

A sum of € 11,000 has been budgeted for the restoration, which is to be financed partly by the Graf Zinzendorf Foudation and partly by donations. If more money is raised, it will be used for restoration works in the Unity Archives.

Project launch: March 9, 2024
Required sum (as per invoice): € 12,330
Project progress: Fundraising from March 2024; pick-up of the painting and start of restoration by the restorers on March 16, 2024; return of the restored painting on November 16, 2024
Total donations: € 12,209.52  (as of December 19, 2024)

Bank account for wire transfer or donations:

Payee: Ev. Brüder-Unität
Keyword: Archives' Project 2024
IBAN DE04 3506 0190 1560 1000 15
Bank für Kirche und Diakonie eG
BIC GENODED1DKD

Thank you for your donation!