ART, and some robust engineering, won out over nature.
Torrential rain earlier this week led Edinburgh's river, the Water of Leith, to overflow its banks.
The sudden rise in water levels, and the intensity of the water flow, raised fears for the status of a previously troubled series of art exhibits placed along its course.
However, the recently restored figures, by noted artist Antony Gormley and installed along the Water by the National Galleries of Scotland, have survived.
Nor do the sculptures appear to have been damaged by the stormy tumult.
A mechanism in the statues which allows them to bend under the weight of the current worked, and although debris has to be removed from around the humanoid sculptures, they are still in place.
READ MORE: Gormley's figures restored to Edinburgh river
A spokesperson for the National Galleries of Scotland confirmed: "This week’s severe weather considerably increased the water levels in the Water of Leith, briefly obscuring some of Antony Gormley’s 6 Times sculptures.
"All sculptures however remain in position as before, with no immediate evidence of significant damage or alteration.
"Whilst the water levels have now receded, the river is still currently fast flowing.
"We are closely monitoring the sculptures and will begin removing any surrounding debris from each, once it is safe to do so.”
The statues were recently restored and re-installed.
Work was completed last month on the '6 Times' sculptures of human figures, which were first installed in the Water of Leith in 2010.
In 2012 four of the life size figures had to be removed completely, after they had issues with their tilting mechanisms.
READ MORE: Gormley's statues return to Water of Leith
Work to re-establish the figures, all situated at different parts of the water, were completed in early June.
The figures stand in a route from the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art to the sea.
Four of the figures are sited in the Water of Leith, and are intended to act as gauges for the height of the river.
A further three figures have been reinstalled at separate points downstream in Stockbridge, Powderhall and Bonnington.
The final figure, situated at the end of an abandoned pier in Leith Docks, looks out to the point where the river meets the sea.
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