Roman Bathe Roman Generals

These figures were possibly carved by John Osbourn a local Bath Sculptor who also carved Jupiter in the Botanical Gardens and were in position at the turn of the 19th centaury. They are made from two pieces of Bath stone and represent Roman generals in Britain some of whom subsequently became rulers of the Roman Empire. The environment of the Baths is very damp and these figures on the balustrade of the Great Baths are prone to a great throughput of moisture.  This drying and wetting process has been exacerbated by the hard cement joint between the stones causing increased exfoliation in this part of the figure. The partners of the newly formed Nimbus Conservation Group carried out the conservation work on these figures using the lime techniques they had learned under Professor Baker on the west front of Wells Cathedral