Iconic Louvre work ‘Winged Victory’ to be restored

“Winged Victory of Samothrace.” (Muse du Louvre)

PARIS (AFP) ― The Louvre is in September to restore one of its most iconic works, the “Winged Victory of Samothrace” statue depicting the Greek goddess Nike, the museum announced Monday.

A team of experts will oversee the three-million-euro ($4 million) restoration of the ancient Greek marble statue ― one of the Paris art museum’s three best-known pieces, along with the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

Repair work on the headless statue, which dates from between B.C. 220 and B.C. 185, is expected to take over a year to complete, though the work should be back on show in spring 2014.

Previously restored in 1934, this second touch-up entails cleaning up the statue and resolving a number of structural problems that were not addressed the first time, the museum said.

According to the Louvre, over seven million museum-goers visit the statue every year.