An ode to peace
The monument is comprised out of a monumental pedestal covered with bronze, bas-relief friezes. The 'Madelon' shines on top of the pedestal as an allegory of peace and victory. The monument was erected in 1922, honouring the Turnhout victims of the First World War.
The crowning female statue had been restored some 20 years earlier, which resulted in mis-matched patinas with the natural green of the bas-reliefs. Furthermore, locally thick crusts with active corrosion underneath were present, risking loss of material in the long run.
The statue and bas-reliefs were dismantled and cleaned thoroughly. All black crusts and old wax layers were removed.
The internal structure of the Madelon dated from the previous restoration and was replaced with a new and stronger structure. All seams around the arms and waist of the statue were redone. The patina was restored in order to match the natural colours of the bas-reliefs.
The patina of the bas-reliefs was locally retouched to improve readability.
