New problems for the British Museum: They protect ancient Greek statues with sheets in roofless halls (photos)

According to the art website Artnet, rooms in the British Museum continue to deteriorate as there are unstable ceilings.

The article mentions leaking ceilings, inadequate environmental control, peeling paint, and cracked floor tiles.

Special emphasis is also given to the ceiling of two specific rooms.

These are Room 23, which houses ancient Greek and Roman statues, and Room 8, featuring masterpieces of Assyrian art.

These precious exhibits are now protected from the elements only by a…sheet covering the roof’s skylight.

The Artnet writer reports visiting these rooms on January 23, a day of heavy storms in London, and observed the sheets covering the exhibits flapping violently due to strong winds and rain.

In fact, in the room with the Assyrian exhibits, the sheet was torn, with the sky clearly visible.

The British Museum has informed Artnet that the glass panels of the ceiling will not be replaced until part of the broader renovation works of the wing, as outlined in the museum’s comprehensive redevelopment plan.

With an estimated cost of at least one billion pounds, this renovation has been delayed, with Artnet’s information placing the start of the works at the end of the current year or the beginning of 2025.

Next spring, a competition is expected to be held to select the architect who will design the modernization of the western wing.

Apparently, to control the temperature due to this situation, the writer notes that large floor heaters have been installed in some of the rooms.

Such industrial floor heaters are also found in the Parthenon Sculptures hall, which is only a few meters away.

In its response, the British Museum states that it has previously acknowledged that the ceiling requires “complete replacement,” which will be done as part of the extensive renovation.

“For the time being, temporary measures have been implemented in certain rooms to protect the collection, our visitors, and staff from water leaks until these works commence,” added a museum spokesperson.

It is noted that in recent years there have been several incidents of water leaks from rain in the Parthenon Sculptures hall, with Artnet highlighting the reaction of the Greek Minister of Culture who had spoken about reinforcing the fair demand for the permanent return of the sculptures to Athens.

Also mentioned is Lina Mendoni’s reaction after a recent fashion show in the Sculptures hall.

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