Schilling's figures uncovered again
Photo session: Tuesday, 4 April, 9.30 a.m. - Removal of the enclosures
On Tuesday, 4 April, from 9.30 a.m., the four Schilling figures of "Morning", "Noon", "Evening" and "Night" will be freed from their protective shells. With the help of a crane, the employees of the Parks Department will remove the so-called enclosures. These protect the sandstone sculptures from the weather in winter.
Last year, the Parks Department completely replaced the glass of the enclosures of the stone sculptures for the first time. The panes had become "blind" and partially damaged over the years, so that the sculptures could hardly be seen inside their enclosures. The material costs for this totalled around 1,500 euros.
Over the coming months, the sculptures will now stand "uncovered" in the Schlossteichpark.
Further restoration of the artworks is planned from 31 July to 29 September. Their dirty coating - the patina - must be removed. This will be done on site so that passers-by can look over the experts' shoulders as they clean the artworks and repair small damaged areas. The figures are then given a protective coating. This glaze allows the sandstone to breathe, but also protects it from environmental influences. The work will cost around 50,000 euros.
The sandstone figures - allegories of the four times of day - created by Johannes Schilling between 1863 and 1866 for the Brühlsche Terrasse in Dresden were donated to the city of Chemnitz by King Albert in 1898 and adorned the theatre square until the "Chemnitzer Hof" hotel was built. A bronze cast of these figures remained in Dresden. For over seven years, the Chemnitz city fathers searched for a new location, which was finally found at the castle pond.