France: The Statue of the Archangel of Mont Saint-Michel back in place
The statue of the Archangel of Mont Saint-Michel, in the northwest of France, was restored to its place at the summit of the abbey by helicopter on May 26, 2016. According to Radio Vatican’ website, the statue was winched up from polders around the site, then received by workers on a 30-meter high scaffolding built around the edifice’s spire.
A contemporary of New York’s Statue of Liberty, and made by the same French foundry, the gold-plated bronze archangel was taken down last March and entrusted to a workshop in Marsac-sur-l’Isle, near Périgueux (southwest). For two months, four artisans, two of whom were gilders, worked one after another to prepare the statue to face the whims of the weather for at least another 50 years, with a particularly thick gold – 32 grams for every 1000 sheets, rather than the usual 23 grams.
In all, the operation, whose goal was to bring up to standard the archangel whose wings serve as a lightning rod, cost the Center of National Monuments 450,000 euros.
This is only the second time in its history that the statue has been restored. The first restoration was realized in 1987, but under the winds full of sand, the gold plating had practically disappeared, leaving a dull pale yellow.
Installed in 1897, the bronze statue weighs 520 kg, and is 4.5 meters high with the wings. It represents St. Michael threatening the infernal dragon with his sword. With two to three million visitors every year, Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most visited monuments in France. The abbey and the bay are included in the Unesco’s list of World Heritage Sites.
(sources: apic/radio Vatican/youtube – DICI 337 June 17, 2016)
