The defacements that hurt. A programme for the restoration of sculptures. of the University of Athens and the National Library by Alpha Bank

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Nigel Mason
5 years ago
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1 The defacements that hurt A programme for the restoration of sculptures of the University of Athens and the National Library by Alpha Bank Alpha Bank has been demonstrating for several years its keen interest in Arts and Culture, not only by financially supporting related events but also through its Programmes and Collections. In this context, the Bank, with the valuable assistance of the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and in order to contribute to Greek social and cultural life, implemented the programme The defacements that hurt in 2014 as well. The continuation of the Programme was triggered by the condition of all sculptures placed in the precincts of the University of Athens and the National Library, which have suffered extensive damage and acts of vandalism, especially in the last years. These sculptures have been created by major sculptors, such as I. Kossos, G. Fytalis, G. Vitalis, G. Papagiannis and G. Bonanos. The works suffer the effects of the adverse daily conditions in the city centre, together with all types of interference in the form of tags, chips, additions and overpainting as well as losses of parts. The programme s purpose is both to ensure that these sculptures and their pedestals are properly conserved and protected against future interference and to sensitise the people passing through the Athens city centre to the protection of the sculptures placed outdoors. The two sets of sculptures, located at the University of Athens and the National Library, were restored by conservation specialists of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. The works which started in February 2014 and were concluded in July 2014, involved thorough preservation of the sculptures surfaces, restoration of the structural continuity of materials and plastic restoration of the losses sustained. The methods applied and the materials selected were in accordance with the standards defined by the internationally accepted code of ethics for the restoration of historical monuments. The sculptures restored are (in unveiling date order) the following: UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS (Propylaea and Garden): 1. I. KOSSOS: Rigas Ferraios, G. FYTALIS: Patriarch Gregorius V, I. KOSSOS: Adamantios Korais, G. VITALIS: William Ewart Gladstone, G. PAPAGIANNIS: War Memorial dedicated to students who lost their lives in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, G. PAPAGIANNIS: War Memorial dedicated to students who lost their lives in the First World War, G. BONANOS: Ioannis Capodistrias, SOUTHWESTERN WATER FOUNTAIN (central elevated feature and round basin) 9. NORTHWESTERN WATER FOUNTAIN (central elevated feature and round basin)

2 NATIONAL LIBRARY OF GREECE 1. G. BONANOS: Panaghis Vallianos, 1900 (façade) 2. Unknown: Dionysios Kokkinos (building s backyard) Athens, October 27, 2014

3 UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS (Propylaea and Garden)

4 Before the restoration Ι. Kossos: Rigas Ferraios, 1871 G. Fytalis:Patriarch Gregorius V, Ι.Κossos: Adamantios Korais, 1874 G.Vitalis: William Ewart Gladstone, G. Papagiannis: War Memorial dedicated to students who lost their lives in the Greco- Τurkish War of 1897, 1901 After the restoration

5 Before the restoration G. Papagiannis:War Memorial G. Bonanos: Ioannis Capodistrias,, Southwestern Water Foundation Northwestern Water Foundation dedicated to students who lost their 1931 lives in the First World War, 1919 After the restoration

6 NATIONAL LIBRARY OF GREECE Before the restoration G. Bonanos: P. Vallianos, Unknown: Dionysios Kokkinos 1900 (facade) (builiding s backyard) After the restoration

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