The Nymphenbad in the Zwinger is being renovated

The Nymphenbad at the Dresden Zwinger is currently undergoing renovation (file photo) / Photo: Robert Michael/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

The Nymph Bath in Dresden’s Zwinger is undergoing a renovation. Since early June, a protective enclosure has been shielding the fountain cascade from the elements and providing optimal working conditions for the stone sculptors and restorers from the Zwinger Bauhütte, according to the Saxon State Real Estate and Construction Management Agency (SIB). The last major renovation of the Baroque fountain took place in 2008. The work is expected to be completed by fall.

Use of the fountain has left visible marks

According to the SIB, years of use have left visible marks on the historic structure. The constant flow of water—from May to October each year—has worn down the soft sandstone, while organic deposits such as lichens, mosses, and algae have eroded the surface structure. “In addition, the leaching of lime from the joint mortar has led to stubborn deposits on the sculptures and walls.”

Sandstone must be desalinated

Various artisanal methods are being used to repair the damage. For example, the problematic layers of lime are removed and dissolved using formic acid, while organic deposits are removed using steam. Another aspect is the desalination of the stone: using compresses made of cellulose and clay, which are soaked in demineralized water, the salts are drawn out of the stone.

Sculptures are being restored at the Zwingerbauhütte

At the same time, experts are reshaping eroded sections of stone and creating detailed replicas of the so-called “prallsteine”—the stones that break the water’s impact as it flows from the fountains. The delicate balustrade figures and the central sculptural groups have been dismantled and are being restored directly in the workshops of the Zwingerbauhütte before they return to their original locations in the fall.

The Nymph Bath was built between 1712 and 1719 and was constructed by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann using sandstone from the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. It was completed to mark the wedding of Crown Prince Friedrich August II to Maria Josepha of Austria.