Restoration of the "De Renert" sculpture

06.06.2024

Art and culture

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION

"De Renert" – a monument made of natural stone – stands in Place Guillaume II next to Luxembourg City Hall. It was erected between 1931 and 1932 to honour Luxembourg poet Michel Rodange (1827–1876). The name of the monument refers to Rodange's most important work, and some passages from the text are engraved on the back of the sculpture. The balustrades, which are also part of the architectural heritage, were installed in 1838, when Luxembourg City Hall was being built.

RESTORATION PROGRAMME

During the renovation of Place Guillaume II, an analysis was conducted, taking in the monument, the balustrades surrounding the square and the façade below with the fountain on the Rue Notre-Dame side. The natural stones were found to be severely damaged, with visible cracks.

All the natural-stone components, the entire poured-concrete sculpture of the "Fiischen" – another name for "De Renert" – and all the stone and cast-iron components of the balustrades were dismantled, restored in a workshop and then reassembled. The bronze components, such as the plaque bearing Michel Rodange's portrait and the ornamented spout of the fountain, were also restored. A new plaque with the word "Drénkwaasser" has a button on it that is connected to a timer, and when it is pressed, drinking water comes out.

As the base of the monument was no longer in its original condition, having been replaced by a granite slab when the underground car park was built in 1978, it was decided to rebuild it out of Gilsdorf limestone in order to replicate the original tiered outer step.