Lviv continues to check the condition of cultural heritage monuments that, together with restorers and volunteers, were protected from possible destruction at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Thus, today, 7 October, experts examined the sculpture of the Neptune fountain on Rynok Square. Rynok Square. No damage that could have been caused by protective structures was found on the figure.
According to Tetiana Balukova, Head of the Department for the Protection of the Historic Environment of the Lviv City Council, the figure is in the same condition as before the war. There are certain layers of moss, but they were there before the figure was secured, and it does not pose a threat to the sculpture. However, to neutralise it, the figure will be treated with a special solution in the near future.
“There was no serious impact on the condition of the monument. Since there were already cracks there, it could be expected that soot and dirt would collect, which can negatively affect the stone and be a source of salinity. However, during the surface examination of the figure, no strong sources of salinity were found. There are also minor damage to the substance, and in some places the stone is beginning to crumble, but this is a matter of time. God willing, the war will end, and then we will have to raise the issue of conservation,” said Oleh Rybchynskyi, Doctor of Architecture, Associate Professor of the Department of Architecture and Restoration at the Institute of Architecture, Lviv Polytechnic National University.
Andriy Pochekva, a lecturer at the Lviv I. Trush College and an artist-restorer, also said that the sculpture is in satisfactory condition. “There are some moss lesions, but this is a natural process, we can’t get away from it. In general, the sculpture is in a satisfactory condition,” the expert noted.
According to Andriy Saliuk, head of the Charitable Foundation for the Preservation of the Historical and Architectural Heritage of Lviv, the protective structure has fulfilled its function, which was assigned to it in 2022. “We are now discussing the possibility of changing it slightly to make it a little lighter. Because we already have experience in Ukraine, and we have detailed consultations with fellow monument conservationists from abroad. But now the most important thing is to defeat the Muscovite and find the resources to restore all these objects,” said Andriy Saliuk.
The experts also conducted a superficial inspection of the protective film that covers the sculptures at the Cathedral. “This film is quite fragile and does not like ultraviolet light. But we can see that it is not damaged, and is in a completely normal condition. There is no moisture under the bottom, and this is the most important thing. So everything is fine, the sculpture is dry,” said Andriy Saliuk.
Last week, the state of the Adonis fountain sculpture was inspected in Lviv. No damage was found on the figure.
As a reminder, from the first days of the war in Lviv, stained-glass windows, sculptures, monuments, altars and chapels were covered with special materials/constructions. In total, more than 40 large objects were protected, and dozens of smaller valuable exhibits were dismantled and moved to storage.