Winter protection for Schilling’s figures
The four Schilling sculptures in the park by the Schloßteich have once again been fitted with their winter protection. The acrylic glass enclosures were lifted into place over the sandstone sculptures using a crane. This required a great deal of care to ensure that the historic works of art were not damaged.
The enclosures are being hoisted into place by a crane. To ensure the statues are not damaged in the process, great care is required on the part of the staff from the Parks Department and the crane operator. In spring 2027, the winter protection covering Schilling’s figures will be removed again and stored at the municipal building yard.
Schilling’s sculptures are among the artistic and sculptural gems from the Classical period that are renowned far beyond Chemnitz. The sculptor Johannes Schilling (1828–1910), who hailed from Mittweida, created them as allegories of the times of day. They are called ‘Morning’, ‘Noon’, ‘Evening’ and ‘Night’.
The originals, carved in 1861 from Postelwitz Elbe sandstone, originally stood on the Brühl Terrace in Dresden. In 1908, they were replaced there by bronze casts (duplicates), and Chemnitz received the more valuable originals. Since the 1930s, they have stood in the listed Neue Schloßteichanlage, which was designed specifically for the installation of the figures by City Planning Officer Fred Otto.