The RMS Titanic, the first expedition since 2010 to the famous 112-year-old sunken shipwreck, has successfully captured on film footage thought to have been lost for decades, The Associated Press reported Monday.
The “Diana of Versailles” statue, photographed by the expedition, was last seen in 1986. ReportedThe Georgia-based company organizing the expedition owns the rights to the RMS Titanic's wreckage.
The expedition returned to Providence, Rhode Island, on August 9 after staying there for 20 days and taking more than 2 million high-resolution photos to create a detailed map of the wreck, according to the Associated Press. (Related: US government moves to thwart Titanic expedition plans)
On Sunday, the company posted an updated photo of the statue, covered in sand on the ocean floor, and compared it to a photo of the statue taken when the ship was seaworthy. “Much of Titanic's artwork was made from organic material that has decomposed into the soil after decades at sea in the harsh environment of the North Atlantic,” RMS Titanic Company tweeted.
Artworks were displayed throughout the halls and rooms. #TitanicBut beauty is a delicate thing: Many of the artworks on the Titanic were made from organic materials that decomposed into soil after decades in the harsh ocean floor environment. #North Atlantic. pic.twitter.com/zVauzPWDTq
— RMS Titanic Inc. (@RMSTitanic_Inc) September 1, 2024
According to the company, the “Diana of Versailles” statue is “a roughly two-foot-tall bronze statue based on the original sculpture of the Roman goddess at the Louvre.” Diana is the goddess of hunting and wild animals. According to To the Encyclopedia Britannica.
But some artworks are made to stand the test of time, like the Roman goddess Diana that sits atop the fireplace mantel in the First Class Lounge. “Diana of Versailles” is a nearly 2-foot-tall bronze statue based on the original sculpture that hangs at the Louvre.
— RMS Titanic Inc. (@RMSTitanic_Inc) September 1, 2024
The company also released video footage from the expedition, which documented changes to the wreckage scene, including the loss of a “15-foot section of railing on the port bow.”
Latest scans and images #Titanic Many changes at the wreck site have become apparent, providing insight into the deterioration of the ocean liner. One notable change is the loss of a 15-foot section of the railing on the port bow. pic.twitter.com/HxbLQ2S5R8
— RMS Titanic Inc. (@RMSTitanic_Inc) September 2, 2024
The company maintained the railings would remain there until 2022, according to the Associated Press.
“It was an exciting moment when the Princess Diana statue was discovered, but it is disappointing that the iconic bow rail and other evidence of deterioration have been lost, which only strengthens our determination to preserve Titanic's heritage,” Thomasina Ray, director of collections at RMS Titanic, was quoted as saying.
