The sculpture New Age by Vincenc Makovský will be restored

photo: vetrelciavolavky.cz

Prague - The monumental sculpture by Vincenc Makovský, which is placed on a high pedestal in front of the New Building of the National Museum in Prague, will be restored. Its surface is covered with crusts and corrosion products of bronze, therefore it will be mechanically cleaned and fixed with conservation wax. If the procedure is approved by the heritage conservationists, the work will take place next year. The National Museum informed ČTK about this today.
    According to its information, the stone cladding of the reinforced concrete supporting pillar will also be restored. Several slabs are cracked or loose, so it will be necessary to remove them.
    The allegorical sculpture titled New Age was created by Vincenc Makovský (1900-1966) for the Czechoslovak pavilion at the World Expo EXPO 1958, where it won the Grand Prix of the world exposition in Brussels. The sculpture has been in its place since the early 1970s.
    The examination of the sculpture was carried out by restorer Ivan Houska with his colleagues. It was supposedly a quick operation - the more than eight-meter scaffolding was erected in 20 minutes, followed by a climb onto the statue and taking photodocumentation.
    During the restoration, the sculpture will remain in its place and it will not be necessary to remove it. The connecting material is indeed affected by corrosion, but its condition does not yet require replacement.
    Makovský is considered one of the most significant representatives of the interwar avant-garde. From the 1930s, realism began to prevail in his work. In the post-war period, he focused mainly on monumental commemorative works, among which is the bronze sculpture New Age. It depicts a man holding plans in his hands and a woman with a bowl full of flowers and fruits; between them is a stylized sun. The sculpture in front of the New Building of the National Museum is the second cast – the original stands in front of the Brno exhibition grounds.