The Sholts'-Wolfovychs' house in Lviv, located on the western frontage of Market Square at number 23, was built in the 1670s. Over the centuries its interior has undergone numerous transformations, but the sculptural ornamentation of the façade has been fully preserved. The most impressive of these is the composition depicting the "Baptism of Christ" located at the level of the second floor.

Herman van Hutte is cited as the author of the composition. In the lower part, on a protruding cornice, a semi-recumbent figure of the goddess Fortune is placed. Behind her back, on the bases of the pilasters, are portraits of burghers in the form of masks, and above her is a plinth with coat-of-arms cartouches. On it sits a sculptural group depicting the scene of the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. The figures are placed in a niche filled with a composition of elongated plaques decorated in relief with a floral motif. On the sides, the whole is enclosed by cannelled columns in Corinthian order and, from above, a representation of a dove symbolising the Holy Spirit.

More than 300 years of exposure in unfavourable external conditions is immediately apparent in the state of preservation of the sculptures. Heavily degraded stone material and heavily corroded iron mounting anchors could soon lead to the complete detachment of some pieces.

The Christ figure was particularly at risk. Due to the missing part of the figure's right leg and the breakage of the left leg, it was held only by one mounting anchor connecting it to the niche. The same was true of the right hand of John the Baptist, which, having broken, only supported itself on Christ's head. The whole was covered with numerous secondary restorations, atmospheric and microbial build-ups, cracks and repainting. The washing out of the surface layer of the stone had weakened the rock and led to the illegibility of the representations.

Work carried out in 2021.

Due to the emergency state of preservation of the object, salvage work had to be undertaken in order to stop the progressive degradation processes and then to mitigate their effects. The work began by scanning the site with a laser and drone and taking detailed photo documentation. Based on the analysis of the state of preservation, it was decided that the statue of Christ, the right hand of John the Baptist, the alabaster plaque on the right side of the niche and the left wing of the dove should be dismantled. The dismantled elements were placed in special boxes and transported to the conservation workshop.

In the next stage, they will be examined to help outline the scope and programme of future conservation work.

Executor: Anna Kudzia Conservation of Monuments

Works carried out in 2022.

As part of the work to protect monuments in Ukraine from damage as a result of warfare, the statue of St John the Baptist was dismantled. The statue was removed using a ski lift and then placed in a special box and transported to a safe place.

Executor: Anna Kudzia Conservation of Monuments

Conservation work carried out in 2021-2022, Conservation Programme, Polonica Institute