Eight panels adorning St Xavier’s cradle showcased at Betim museum

Panaji: Eight original panels by the renowned Goan artist Dom Martin depicting St Francis Xavier’s life are being showcased at Betim’s Ferry Cross Historical Photo Archive during the 45-day event at Old Goa.

These panels, which adorned the saint’s casket containing his relics at the 1974 Exposition, are exactly 50 years old. They were last displayed at the Benaulim-based Goa Chitra museum’s Dom Martin art gallery during the 2014 Exposition.

“The 18th Exposition of St Xavier’s relics is significant for several reasons. We are honoured to display these panels at our newly-opened Goa Historical Photo Archive in Betim throughout the Exposition period,” said Victor Hugo Gomes, founder of the Goa Chitra museum.

The eight panels, created by Martin, were gifted to Gomes in 2014 along with 81 other paintings. These works were commissioned by the then rector of the Basilica, Fr George D’Sa, to adorn the Basque saint’s cradle.

“Fr Rego asked me to do paintings on St Xavier’s life and to replace the 1964 panels which only carried a message “Pray for us” in a few Indian languages,” Martin told TOI from the US.

“These original panels are also significant because they represent the last photo taken of the casket when the panels adorned it,” Gomes said.

Photography at the mausoleum was later halted to prevent damage from UV radiation.

“That particular photo was used to announce future Expositions and other related events,” Gomes said.


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