Osijek, Archaeological Museum in Osijek, October 2011
After years of conservation and restoration work, Croatian Conservation Institute unveiled the renovated Holy Trinity votive monument in the Osijek Citadel (Tvrđa).
The Osijek plague memorial is among the most representative monuments of architectural sculpture of the Baroque period in continental Croatia. The votive monument was erected to serve as protection from epidemic, with figures of plague saints standing in central part of the composition: St. Roch, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Francis Xavier, St. Sebastian and St. Rosalia. Four outer statues were later added to the ensemble. This latter group already underwent conservation treatment in the Croatian Conservation Institute in 2004, when the originals were replaced by replicas and presented in an exhibition.
Croatian Conservation Institute carried out conservation-restoration work in order to fittingly present this exceptional monument and prevent further dilapidation. The work comprised mechanical cleaning using water, micro sandblaster and laser. Stone was treated chemically, with some parts reinforced using vacuum. The silver and gold plated elements on the top of the monument were also restored. The bottom four stone statues, along with the original dove - a depiction of the Holy Spirit - were replaced by replicas and stored in a museum.
Exhibition catalogue [PDF: 4.9 MB]
Brochure [PDF: 2.8 MB]