The Lapérouse statue, created in 1843, is the work of sculptor Nicolas-Bernard Raggi. This 3.5-metre bronze monument is a tribute to this great navigator. It depicts him standing with a sword on his left side, a telescope in his right hand and at his feet 4 anchors and 2 cannons discovered at the end of the 19th century at the site of the shipwreck in the Vanikoro fault.
The statue magnifies the Place Lapérouse in Albi (81000). On display in the open air, after decades on the seabed, the anchors and cannons were attacked by sea salt and humidity. The statue was therefore restored in 2022. Businesses and private individuals were invited to participate via a public subscription. ALAF (Association Lapérouse Albi France) was one of the first to respond with a donation. The initial estimate for the total renovation of the monument was 49800 euros: restoration of the base by the Gillet foundry, which remade a new base, removal of the statue, treatment of the statue and all its components (cannons, anchors… and reinstallation).
The treatment process chosen in 2022
In 2022, the castings were treated with a solvent-free, chemical-free protection product. A-Corros chose this process because, unlike anti-corrosion paints, it is reversible and difficult to remove.
But it turned out that, while the renovation was technically satisfactory, the aesthetic result was less so. The anchors were turning white through a chemical reaction.
New anchor intervention in 2024
The A-Corros company was therefore called back, and its intervention was carried out at no extra cost to the city of Albi.
After brushing the surfaces, the company finally applied two coats of anti-corrosion epoxy and polyurethane paint.
