Photo: Mike Macklin (WBZ)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — One of America's Founding Fathers is getting a facelift this weekend.
A historic marble bust of George Washington has sat in an alcove next to the altar in Boston's Old North Church for more than 200 years. The likeness was carved in 1790 by Danish-born artist Christian Gullager, then donated to the church in 1815.
"Most of the portraits of George Washington were more idealistic and more mythic," said David Manzi, owner of Manzi Appraisers & Restoration. "Here, the sculpture is in the likeness of George Washington, and this is verbatim from the Marquis de Lafayette, he said this is how he remembered his George Washington. And you can tell from this sculpture he looks drawn, he looks tired, he looks stressed."
Since then, the bust has never been properly restored.
"We don’t think it’s ever been cleaned or touched in its history," said David Manzi. "It may have been wiped down at times."
Manzi began the restoration process Saturday morning with co-worker Christopher Gutierrez.
"The natural color of the marble will still show," Manzi told WBZ NewsRadio. "We don’t want to ever obviously change that. Some of the little chips or gouges on the sides, those will all stay; it’s all part of the history of the piece."
Manzi and Gutierrez will return to the Old North Church on Sunday for a second round of cleaning.
WBZ's Mike Macklin reports.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App