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Vilnius
Vilniaus apskritis Gedimino prospektas 20 |
Šv. JurgisSaint George(ca. 275/281 - 303)Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. He is immortalized in the tale of Saint George and the Dragon. Patron saint of England (Wikipedia)
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Kęstutis Balčiūnas
1895 (2005) |
Free translation of Į Gedimino prospektą sugrįžo šv.Jurgio skulptūra:
After more than half a century, the sculpture, depicting St. George slaying the dragon, returned to Gediminas Avenue. On Monday, the sculpture was put on the roof of the shopping arcade, Grand Duke Palace, a completely reconstructed commercial gallery.The restoration of the sculpture, consisting of three parts - St. George, a horse and a dragon, was commissioned by the Cultural Heritage Department. The new sculpture was created by Kestutis Balčiūnas, sculptor from Marijampole, who won the competition of the Lithuanian Artists' Association. The sculpture depicts St. George his spear piercing into the dragon under the feet of the horse.
The sculpture, with a height of 4.5 meters, a length of 5 meters, and a width of 2 meters, weighing 1200 kg, is made of lightweight composite materials: a stainless steel frame, covered with the same material used to manufacture gliders (fiberglass). According to the company's strategic communications center, the sculpture is practically eternal, not affected by rain or fire. The construction cost 300 thousand LTL.
The new sculpture is slightly larger than the original of 1895, when this building was built. From construction to 1940 the building was known as St. George Hotel and sculpture has always been associated with the current Gediminas Avenue, whose first name was St. George Avenue.
The sculpture was overthrown in 1944, when the hotel burned, and it was damaged.
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