On the night of Monday / Tuesday of Renaissance sculpture «The Holy Archangel Michael» work by Andrea della Robby fell in the Metropolitan Museum in New York

Directorate Metropolitan Museum New New York, reported that last night hit the floor «The Holy Archangel Michael» - terracotta bas-relief of the XV century, covered with blue and white glaze. Bas-relief located at the entrance to the hall of European sculpture and decorative arts.

The author bas-relief - Italian Renaissance artist Andrea della Robbie, one of the representatives of a broad family of sculptors, known for their polychrome glazed terracotta decorations. At the damaged bas-relief dating from the year 1475, was presented to Archangel Michael, in full battle vestment. The sculpture was created for the Catholic church in a small Italian town of Faenza. The exhibit was acquired by the museum in 1960 from a private collection, and since then he was one of the jewelry room European sculpture. Now it is building the museum is temporarily closed for visitors.

Causes of the accident has not yet been identified, but a representative of the museum Herold Holzer said that it was an accident rather than on the actions of intruders. Terracotta sculpture collapsed to the floor, split into several fragments.

Now the main challenge museum - to determine the extent of damage to the sculpture and the possibility of restoration. Expert restorers, examined bas-relief, found that it can be restored. In particular, reported that the head of the sculpture has received almost no damage, but most affected wings Stone Archangel. When will the restoration and how long it takes, yet unknown.

Anna Savitskaya

Source: www.newsru.com , www.lenta.ru , www.nytimes.com