Existing comment:
Conservation:
"Before the Sculpture loses all of its Visual Clarity"
Even a marble monument needs careful attention after almost two centuries of exposure to the elements. Lady Baltimore, atop the Battle Monument, lost her right arm in a 1938 windstorm and local sculptor Hans Shuler replaced both the arm and the wreath clutched in her hand. In 1975, artist Reuben Kramer replaced the Lady's left arm holding a rudder. Occasional cleaning and repair kept the monument's decay in check until 2010 when conservator Steven Tatti recommended a complete overhaul. During extensive repair to stone, mortar, and bronze, Lady Baltimore, a priceless early American icon, was moved to the Maryland Historical Society on October 5, 2013, for her preservation and protection.
A reproduction of Lady Baltimore now stands atop the monument, cast form the original, but made of materials that will better withstand the threats posed by exposure to the weather and pollution. |