The Belgrade Victor returning to Kalemegdan soon: Compare his new to the previous look

The Belgrade Victor (Pobednik) monument was removed from the pedestal on October 10

Final work is underway on this symbol of Belgrade, and the moment of the Victor's return is drawing ever closer. Mestrovic's sculpture once again shows details that remind us of this artist's brilliance and skill.

Mestrovic's bronze statue, 4.25 meters tall and weighing almost a ton, was removed from the pedestal on October 10 with the help of a cable and a crane.

Experts from the Belgrade City Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, using 3D scans, discovered that there were 30 holes in the statue, created during World War II. The statue was taken off at the last minute, as it had been fastened to the pedestal by only one steel cable, which was drawn through one of the legs.

The Victor, according to experts, was so unstable that it would not have withstood a strong storms because it was held by only nine rusty screws. The corrosion completely permeated the steel profiles, so much so that they could be crumbled by hand. Had the monument collapsed - the consequences would have been unforeseeable, which necessitated an urgent and detailed restoration.

There was also the possibility that the Victor would lose his sword, as the connection between the statue and its weapon had completely corroded. Fortunately, skilled conservationists fixed the sword and found that the statue in its original mold had a "patch" on its nose. This "blemish" was removed, and the reconstruction of the damaged part was done with bronze of identical composition.

And when he returns to the Kalemegdan Park on the Belgrade Fortress in February, he will shine in his distinctive color. The black impurities, which accumulated over the years due to smog, have been removed from the statue using a special technique. In the Smederevo studio, the conservationists removed the black cruft with the help of a special method of cleaning with dry ice, i.e., using carbon dioxide in solid state at -79 degrees centigrade.

Video: This is what the Victor looks like after the restoration: We took a peek inside the studio from which he will return home

(Telegraf.rs)