Ancient Feast of Colour
Danish Scientists Research Colour in Antique Sculptures
Contact and Information
Jan Stubbe Østergaard, Research Curator Ancient Art, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, Denmark
jso@glyptoteket.dk
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
www.glyptoteket.dk
Image Gallery
Images 1-2, 4-11: © Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
Image 3: © Stiftung Archäologie, München
- Fig 1 Caligula 1: Traces of paint are preserved on this marble portrait of Caligula, roman emperor from 37–41 AD. Study of them led to one of the first research based experimental reconstructions of the polychromy of a Roman sculpture. Photo: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Fig 2 Caligul 2: What did the portrait of Caligula originally look like? This reconstruction on a marble copy of the head was made for the first exhibition of “Bunte Götter” in 2003. Reconstruction by V. Brinkmann, U. Koch-Brinkmann and J.S. Æstergaard. Photo: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Fig 3 Caligula 3: A later reconstruction of Caligula, based on the same research and done by the same team, is more hypothetical in its higher degree of naturalism. Reconstruction by V. Brinkmann, U. Koch-Brinkmann and J.S. Æstergaard. Photo: Stiftung Archäologie, München
- Fig 4 Lion_original: Tomb lion made of limestone, foun din Corinth, dating from 600-550 B.C. The original colouring of facial details delayed patination, leaving ‘negative’ traces. The recumbent lion is a motif borrowed from the Near East.
- Fig 5 Lion_reconstructed: Vivid, stylized colours give life to this reconstruction of the polychromy of an Archaic Greek lion statue in the Glyptotek, dating from c. 550 BC. Reconstruction by V. Brinkmann and U. Koch-Brinkmann Photo: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Fig 6 Leica M651: With the help of a surgical microscope, conservator Maria Louise Sargent documents traces of colour on a Greek marble portrait dating from the late Hellenistic period around 100 BC. Photo: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Fig 7 Greek portrait with traces: Surgical microscope image of the right eye of the Greek portrait. Eyelashes and other painted details are clearly visible. Photo: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Fig 8 Total photo of sphinx: A Greek limestone sphinx in the Glyptotek. It is from c. 580 BC and was found near Athens. Traces of red are found in many places. Photo: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Fig 9 Detail photo of sphinx: Detail of the chest of the sphinx showing abundant traces of a red colour, identified as ochre. Photo: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Fig 10 Sphinx with traces: Surgical microscope image of the minute traces of a blue pigment on the sphinx. It is as yet unidentified. Photo: Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Fig 11 Greek marble portrait: Greek marble portrait dating from the late Hellenistic period around 100 BC. It is the first time that a Greek portrait of that period has been examined so systematically and with the microscope.
