If you are planning a conservation or restoration project and want expert guidance, reach out to start the conversation.
The Prince Albert statue in George Square, Glasgow is an equestrian bronze monument by Baron Carlo Marochetti, unveiled in 1866.
As one of George Square’s landmark bronzes, the Prince Albert statue has been affected by decades of exposure and layered surface coatings that obscured detail. It was removed as part of Glasgow’s wider George Square works so it could undergo specialist conservation off-site before being reinstated.
Conservators undertook detailed surface treatment to remove thick black paint and corrosion, using gentle aerobraiding to lift coatings without harming the bronze texture, then carried out traditional patination to rebuild a stable, legible finish and recover original detail.
This statue is a key part of George Square’s historic civic “collection,” and once bronze detail is lost to corrosion or inappropriate coatings, it’s hard to recover. Conservation protects the artwork’s craftsmanship, improves legibility for the public, and supports long-term stewardship as the square is renewed.
If you are planning a conservation or restoration project and want expert guidance, reach out to start the conversation.
