The Fountain of Apollo has been lifted from its base in the center of the sumptuous gardens of Versailles.
Jean-Baptiste Tuby’s iconic gilt-bronze work is being removed from its basin for the first time since it was placed there in 1671 during the reign of Louis XIV for an 18-month restoration. Until now, the restoration work had been limited to the surface.
“The Apollo has suffered the impact of time”, Jacques Moulin, chief architect of Versailles, told Reuters, the damage “is not due to the lead, but to the metal structures of the sculptures”.
These structures that have supported the fountain for more than three centuries – made up of 13 statues and weighing 30 tons – have rusted and deformed, necessitating an intervention that had already been considered urgent for several years.
The lead sculptural group representing the god who rises from the sea driving his chariot pulled by four horses and surrounded by dolphins and tritons is placed in the center of the basin in the heart of the garden of the palace, a veritable celebration of the apotheosis of the King Sun.
The restoration work will consist of the dismantling of the statues, with the restoration and gilding of the 13 sculptures and the strengthening of the stone base.
“As you know, we are preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With the equestrian events taking place here, we will have the majestic and flamboyant Apollo Chariot as the backdrop for those Games,” said Catherine Pegard, president of the organisation. public that administers the Palace of Versailles.
