Vatican Unveils Restored ‘Apollo Belvedere,’ Roman Marble Masterpiece

Vatican Unveils Restored ‘Apollo Belvedere,’ Roman Marble Masterpiece
A view of the 'Apollo Belvedere' statue after it was unveiled after restoration at the Vatican Museums at the Vatican, on Oct. 15, 2024. Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
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VATICAN CITY—The Vatican Museums unveiled on Tuesday a restoration of one of the crown jewels of their collection, a 2nd century marble sculpture of the Greek god Apollo that has inspired generations of artists and poets.

Restoration experts spent years working on the “Apollo Belvedere,” repairing fractures in its knees and legs, cleaning the entire cream-coloured statue with lasers, and installing a carbon fibre pole anchored to its base to increase stability.