The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-09
rHE cYrHKRA BRONZE RsRxss
N. Andre Te,is the story Of Hsw He rseeed
II TOgether.

An interesting account Of the manner In
which the life-size bronze statue OF Hermes
that was raised with other treasures from
the bottom Of the sea OF Anticerigo, near
the island OF Cerigo, the ancient Cythera.
few years ago, Is given by M. Andrs OF Paris,
the restorer who did the work. DR.. Charles
Wadstein Of the American School at Athens
thinks the statue Ia the most beautiful an
tique bronze we have. perhaps the most
beautiful Of all Greek statues.
When the remnants OF the Hermes were
brought up from the depths they were
an almost shapeless mass. Now the pieces
have been put together so dexterously
that the statue Is perfect and nothing Of
importance has been added to the original
material The restoration was the hardest
work Of lite kind that was ever undertaken.
The statue is Of bronze and must have
been very light even when 1t was new. for
the ancient Greek founders were very
sparing Of their bronze on account Of its
great value. When the divers came upon
the statue the whole mas was covered
several inches deep with mussels, barnaoles
and calcareous deposits. Beneath this
weight there was but little Of the original
bronze and this broke from careless hand
ling. The head and face. which were Of
somewhat thicker metal, remained fort
unately intact, as did for the most part
the shoulders, arms and feet.
A Greek chemist succeeded after months
Of patient toll In separating the thin REM
nants OF the ancient material from the
substances that were attached to Il. To
N. Andr5 Of Paris, whose reputation was
made by his restorations of the Bosoo
Reale treasures and Of the 0allo-Ronan
statue from C6iigny. was given the task Of
putting the pieces together; he has beea In
BY his son: This L his own account Of
his successful feat:
As the whole statue was In pieces I
began by building It upon q skeleton fsara
the feet up. The skeleton was q strong
bottom Of the left i foot to the top q s sSs
skull; another shorter prop started from
the right foot and Joined this q little be-
low the middle Of the body. Two sids
propsd were built ths. from a the Hp: TO ths
as pleased circular strips for the waist.
THE left foot was In the worst condition
20 that after the broken bits had bssn
fastened carefully TO the inner strips Q
in TO secure : solid basis. The Broken
fragments Of the waist, the legs and the
back were screwed carefully TO the inner
supporting strips and then stiffened With
q layer OF metal Head, arms and breast
wers supported from above by cords till
they could be screwed to the metal frames
fastened to the skeleton.
Luckily some Of the parts showed the
original patina. which was able TO initiate
exactly, and at the end to apply 70 the
whole statue, so that 1t looks now a. II did
when 1t left the hands Of the Greek sculptor.
The statue Ii % metres high chat II, eject
81 inches), little larger than life
Before the restoration sroheologists be-
gan TO dispute as to what the character rep
resented. The right arm il stretched out
and the hand held something round In IT,
Some guess that the statue q Perseus with
the head Of Medusa, others that II 10 Paris
holding the Apple Of Disoord. M. Andr.
feels sure that II Is Hermes. and 90 does
DR.. Waldstein, who points out its points OF
resemblance TO the Hermes Of Particles.
The Greek Government Is going 20 do its
best to find the round object, whatever 1t
was. In the plaoe where the statue was dis
covered.
Parts Of at least thirty or forty statues
were found at Cythsra. and half dozen
have been restored, though they arc Of
marble and It was almost impossible to
discern any shape In them whsn they wore
hshed up. A great group OF borass and
ohanots Of colossal sise was among the
pieces brought to the surface.