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The Harris Museum and Art Gallery has announced that the conservation for the Alexander Frieze is underway.
Depicting Alexander the Great entering Babylon in 331 BC the large sculpture by Bertel Thorvaldsen was commissioned by Giovanni Battista Sommariva.
Inspired by the Parthenon in Athens and the Trajan Column in Rome the frieze took Thorvaldsen ten years to produce in 1828.
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The conservation and redisplay comes after £25,000 was gifted from the Pilgrim Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris.
Cabinet member for culture and arts at Preston City Council councillor Anna Hindle said: “The Alexander Frieze is a significant part of The Harris.”
“This conservation work ensures that it remains an important feature for visitors to enjoy for years to come.
“We are grateful to the Pilgrim Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris for their support in helping to preserve this remarkable piece of history as we continue to transform the Harris through the Harris Your Place project.”
Being one of the most striking features of the museum, the marble frieze has presented a challenge in conservation, requiring expert care due to the size and intricate detail.
But conservation specialists Mareva Conservation have begun the process of assessing, stabilising and restoring the historic piece.
Pilgrim Trust Director Sue Bowers added: “We are delighted to support the conservation and redisplay of the Alexander Frieze with a £20,000 grant. It is a visitor favourite but now requires work form a specialist conservator to help stabilise and safeguard it for future generations to enjoy.”
Professor Peter Lloyd ARE, Chair of Trustees for the Friends of The Harris said: “The Friends of the Harris are proud to support the conservation of the Alexander Frieze, ensuring that people in Preston and beyond can continue to enjoy and be inspired by this remarkable piece of our shared heritage.”
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This work forms part of Harris Your Place, a £16 million project designed to protect the architecture of The Harris for future generations.
The Harris Museum, established in 1893, is set to open later on this year – having been hit by delays and spiralling costs during the refurbishment and restoration project which began in 2022.
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