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1 results

  • The goddess’ new clothes: the carving and polychromy of the Parthenon Sculptures

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  • Giovanni Verri, Hero Granger-Taylor, Ian Jenkins, Tracey Sweek, Katarzyna Weglowska, William Thomas Wootton
  • Journal:
    Antiquity / Volume 97 / Issue 395 / October 2023
    Published online by Cambridge University Press:
    11 October 2023, pp. 1173-1192
    Print publication:
    October 2023
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  • White marble sculpture is a cornerstone of Western art history. Archaeological inquiry, however, has demonstrated that Classical sculpture and its associated architecture were once coloured. The authors examine the Parthenon Sculptures at the British Museum to identify traces of colour and carving on their surfaces. Using close examination and archaeometric techniques, the study shows that the sculptors finished surfaces with textures that reflected specific elements (e.g. skin, wool, linen) and these were then enhanced through the application of colour, including a purple colourant and Egyptian blue. The latter was used extensively to paint elaborate figurative designs on the carved textiles. Despite the complexity of the carved drapery, elaborate ornament was applied to the finish. The findings encourage a reconsideration of the appearance of the Parthenon in the fifth century BC.