Charlottesville, Virginia

The University of Virginia, founded and initially designed by Thomas Jefferson, has a number of significant sculptures installed on the original campus lawn and elsewhere. In addition to two over-life-sized figures of the founder, the collection includes monuments to George Washington and Homer on the lawn. A heroic bronze sculptural group of George Rogers Clark, revolutionary war hero who won battles against the British in Kentucky is situated near the Rotunda. The campus also has a memorial to early aviators and a Confederate soldiers’ memorial.

The bronze sculptures had acquired the appearance typical for under-maintained outdoor bronze sculpture. Green and black streaks marred the visibility of the forms and the exposed metal remained susceptible to on-going deterioration. Graffiti and other insults that are common among boisterous college students had left defacements and minor damages on several works.

Conservation Solutions, Inc. (CSI) was contracted by the University to conserve all of the sculptures in 2004. Each was surveyed and documented prior to treatment. CSI conservators installed scaffolding and cleaned the bronze sculptures and stone bases. Extensive layers of paint and graffiti were removed from the base of the Aviator and elsewhere. Small repairs were performed on vandalized elements. All of the bronzes were then coated with a custom formulated hot-applied wax and buffed. The base of the massive Clark monument was re-pointed with custom formulated mortar.

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