The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-29
THE work OF THE ARTIST.
How Director Brandt Is Making New
Statues Out of the Telfair Casts.

How Director Brandt Is Making New
Statues Out of the Telfair Casts.
Few people in Savannah doubtless are
aware of the work that is being done by
Director Carl L. Brandt in the Telfair
Academy of Arts and Sciences in not only
restoring to their former appearance of
beauty and cleanliness the casts from ia
nous pieces Of antique sculpture, but in
so preparing them that their appearance,
when he finishes with them, is even more
like the original than it ever was.
In the hall of casts there are copies of
slXty-tour famous antique statues and
busts, collection that is at once, hand
some, rare and unique. AS will happen to
such casts in the course of time they have
absorbed dust from the atmosphere, which
has been hardened into the surface of the
plaster by the drying of moisture. This
dirt could not be washed from the casts
nor could 1t be rubbed off. Director Brandt,
who personally undertook the work of re-
storing the casts at the request of the
board OF managers Of the Telfair Acade-
my, is using the only process which has
been known to be successful in work of
this kind.
The casts, which come In sections, have
to be taken apart and immersed in water,
which soaks through them and forces this
dirt out After this process, they are still
left somewhat discolored on the imme-
date surface, and it is found necessary
to go entirely over them and carefully
scrape off the discolora lions, which when
DONE brings out clear, clean white sur
face, bearing a striking resemblance to
the pure marble itself. Upon the casts is
always found a seam left by the pointing
of the mold, and this too he has removed,
so that many who visit the academy now
viii on first sight think they are confront
ed by the marble statues themselves, in
stead of plaster copies of them Wher-
ever 1t is found that piece is broken off,
Mr.. Brandt carefully restores it, but to
do this he must have a knowledge of the
original, which in many cases is broken
just as appears in the cast,
Mr. Brandt has already completed more
than half of the casts in the hall, and will
continue to work on them for some weeks.
He will not be able to take up the large
cast Toro Farnese, that with the bull
which stands on a high marble pedestal in
the center of the hall, as it will probably
take him about three months to finish this
work alone. He viii devote his attention
to that next year.
Upon finishing the work of cleaning and
restoring to freshness and beauty these
casts Mr.. Brandt will treat them with a
certain preparation, which he thinks will
prevent their ever becoming discolored
again as they were before he began his
work. 1t will require about five coatings
of this preparation, which will make them
practically impervious to moisture, and
the dust that then collects upon them can
be washed off with soap and water.
1t is well worth a visit to the academy,
and two or three of them, to see these
practically new statues which adorn the
hall of casts. There are many Savannah
ians who have seen them time and again,
but they would be astonished to see them
in their new dress and with the added
beauty that has been given them. Mr..
| Brandt takes a deep personal interest in
the work before him. The collection of
casts was made by himself, and it is one
in which he very justly takes great pride,
His interest in the work, and the pleasure
he takes in seeing the greatly improved
appearance of the casts is no doubt as
great or greater than if he were working
upon his own property. which is to say it
could not be greater than 1t is.
The city has granted a request from the
director and board of managers to pave
| portions of the stretes around the acad-
envy, so as to do away with as much of the
| dust as is possible. If they are to be
| properly preserved this work should not
/ be delayed at all. Savannah is proud of
| the academy, and whatever it can do in
| behalf of the institution it should do will
| ingly and speedily.