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01. 07. 09. - 13:00

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01. 07. 09. - 13:00

Albertina boss claims art close-call proves God’s existence

By Lisa Chapman

The director of Vienna’s world-famous Albertina Museum has said the lack of damage to precious works of art at the museum after thousands of litres of water leaked into a storage room is "proof of God’s existence."

Klaus Albrecht Schröder said a simple metal plate on the roof of the storage area had stopped 2,100 litres of water pouring directly onto artworks in the room last Wednesday after days of heavy rain.

Head museum manager Helmut Myslik had ordered the plate installed when the 18 million Euros storage room was built in 2003.

Schröder said: "Not a single work of art has been damaged."

Workers have already removed 50 per cent of the 950 works of art in storage at the museum, which are being taken to a new, secret location.

Estimates of the value of the paintings, drawings and sculptures in storage range from hundreds of millions to billions of Euros.

Schröder paid tribute to staff working to move the art. He said today (Weds): "Our time hungers for heroes. Hollywood provides its own for our consideration, but I know better. These men and women are our heroes."

Schröder is also leading an investigation into the cause of the leak into the storage area.

Experts have said they believe water leaked into the storage area from above, meaning the intersection of its asphalt roof and concrete walls may have been improperly sealed.

Meanwhile, the Albertina remains open to the public.

Austrian Times

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