The Fig Reveal

17 – 28 June 2019

“The statue that advertises its modesty with a fig leaf really brings its modesty under suspicion.” – Mark Twain

Join us this Cork Midsummer Festival for a revealing two weeks as sculpture conservator Eoghan Daltun returns to remove the fig-leaves from six male figures in our collection of Canova Casts: Adonis, Apollo Belvedere, Laocoön and His Sons, and the Belvedere Torso.

It is thought that they were added to our casts in Cork after 1818. Fig leaves have often been used to conceal nudity in art, referring to Adam and Eve’s use of them to cover their modesty following expulsion from the Biblical Eden. As such, their removal will restore our casts to their original condition.

After the 'fig' reveal, the plaster leaves will be retained and placed on display separately.

This live process will take place daily 17-21 June and 24-28 June. It will be accompanied by a free IN CONVERSATION event with Eoghan Daltun and Dr Michael Waldron at 1pm, Thursday 20 June. All welcome!

This conservation project runs as part of RECASTING CANOVA and Cork Midsummer Festival, continuing work begun with the support of The Heritage Council.