The House at Jonah has been repaired after the accident, only the restoration of the frescoes remains

Pardubice - The monumentally protected House U Jonáše in Pardubice is nearly restored after three years since the water damage. In the spring, the Renaissance frescoes will be restored. The damage was over three million crowns, the regional government stated in a press release.

The house, with Gothic foundations, Renaissance elements, and a Baroque façade, was affected by the disaster during Christmas 2017. This week, the third phase of repairs and drying of the thick walls has been completed. The East Bohemian Gallery is located in the house.

"The building itself is a treasure. At the time of the disaster, there were artworks in it, which were also partially damaged. However, the most significant damage was caused by water in walls and vaults that were one meter or more wide and were incredibly saturated," said Deputy Governor Roman Línek (Coalition for Pardubice Region).

The pipe burst in the wall on the second floor of the house during the Christmas holidays when no one was present. The staff discovered the consequences only on the morning of December 26.

"Experts in statics, moisture measurement, as well as conservationists and the insurance company had to step in. Given the nature of the building, we could not use any invasive drying methods; everything had to proceed slowly and with consideration," said the gallery director Hana Řeháková.

In the fall of 2018, the second floor was repaired, a year later the ground floor, and this year, after the walls dried, the work on the first floor was completed. "Now it is ready for opening. In the spring, we hope, during operation, the conservator Hana Vítová will complete the work on the frescoes," said Línek.

The Pardubice Region has claimed the damage from its insurance company, which so far amounts to over three million crowns. At the time of the disaster, an exhibition titled Flowers and Other Worlds from the collections of the Museum of Art in Olomouc and the Pardubice collections was taking place. Damaged artworks were restored.

If the epidemic situation allows, the gallery will open new exhibitions in December at House U Jonáše - Atlas of New Constellations dedicated to an author’s book and Architect Miroslav Řepa and his world. On the first floor, there will be an interactive exhibition that follows up on a children's comic titled Five Centuries on the Bison Does Not Apply.