Diana of Versailles Statue Rediscovered
The rediscovery of the Diana of Versailles statue was one of the most momentous findings of the 2024 expedition.
The statue, last seen and photographed by Robert Ballard in 1986, was found lying in the debris field of the Titanic wreck. Ballard, the oceanographer who discovered the Titanic wreck in 1985, had documented the statue, which was once believed to have been lost forever when the ship split in two as it sank.
“It was like finding a needle in a haystack, and to rediscover it this year was momentous,” said Titanic researcher James Penca in an interview with the BBC.
The statue once held a prominent place in the First-Class Lounge, serving as its centerpiece during the ship’s brief service. However, as the ship broke apart during its tragic descent, the statue was dislodged from its mantle and sank into the debris field.
Penca expressed his enthusiasm about the potential recovery of the statue. “This was a piece of art that was meant to be viewed and appreciated,” he said. “And now that beautiful piece of art is on the ocean floor … in pitch black darkness, where she has been for 112 years.”
