A symbol of the Philadelphia Museum of Art is once again looking radiant in bright shiny gold after a yearlong restoration.
It’s the 4-metre-tall sculpture of the Roman goddess Diana in an archer’s pose, ready to fire her arrow. The sculpture has long held a place of prominence and honour in the museum’s central hall.
The work by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (gaw-DEHNS’) originally crowned an early venue for New York’s Madison Square Garden, where it served as a weather vane starting in 1893.
After that building was demolished in 1925, the sculpture was put in storage — its gilded surface severely worn down by the elements. The museum acquired it in 1932.
Museum officials said Thursday that 17-square metres of gold leaf was applied over the 360kg work.
