Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender."Cycladic figures in marble render the human body in a stylized and very abstract form. At the same time, the eyes, mouth, and hair were consistently painted in color, and often the body was also adorned with dots and lines. The meaning of these body ornaments is unclear. They may have a connection to ritual practices and religious beliefs associated with the figures.
The painted eyes, eyebrows, and mouth of this example of the Spedos Group from the Cycladic Museum in Athens are visible in raking light as traces of weathering. Long locks of hair can be made out on the back of the figure. The dots on the cheeks, as well as the original colors, are preserved on other examples, and they allow us to identify the materials used. There are also numerous marble bowls containing pigments still preserved, and these attest to the brilliance of the original hues made from finely ground azurite, cinnabar, hematite, and other materials."
Vinzenz Brinkmann and Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann
2006
Reconstruction 2006 (first version)
Vinzenz Brinkmann and Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann
artificial marble and natural pigments in egg tempera,
H. ca. 35.5 cm.
Restorations modeled by Christoph Bergmann
Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung (Liebieghaus Polychromy Research Project) Frankfurt am Main Inv. St.P 695
Scientific methods employed:
Raking light imaging (Schott KL 1500)
Black and white imaging in visible light (VIS)
Color imaging in visible light (VIS)
Scientific evaluation
Vinzenz Brinkmann, Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann, Elizabeth Hendrix
Pigments used for the reconstruction:
blue: azurite; red: cinnabar
Acknowledgements
Friedrich Teja Bach
Nikolaos Stampolidis, Athens
Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens
The painted eyes, eyebrows, and mouth of this example of the Spedos Group from the Cycladic Museum in Athens are visible in raking light as traces of weathering. Long locks of hair can be made out on the back of the figure. The dots on the cheeks, as well as the original colors, are preserved on other examples, and they allow us to identify the materials used. There are also numerous marble bowls containing pigments still preserved, and these attest to the brilliance of the original hues made from finely ground azurite, cinnabar, hematite, and other materials."
Vinzenz Brinkmann and Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann
2006
Reconstruction 2006 (first version)
Vinzenz Brinkmann and Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann
artificial marble and natural pigments in egg tempera,
H. ca. 35.5 cm.
Restorations modeled by Christoph Bergmann
Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung (Liebieghaus Polychromy Research Project) Frankfurt am Main Inv. St.P 695
Scientific methods employed:
Raking light imaging (Schott KL 1500)
Black and white imaging in visible light (VIS)
Color imaging in visible light (VIS)
Scientific evaluation
Vinzenz Brinkmann, Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann, Elizabeth Hendrix
Pigments used for the reconstruction:
blue: azurite; red: cinnabar
Acknowledgements
Friedrich Teja Bach
Nikolaos Stampolidis, Athens
Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens
Artwork Details
- Title: Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group
- Artist: Vinzenz Brinkmann
- Artist: Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann
- Date: 2006
- Medium: Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera
- Dimensions: 14 15/16 × 2 3/8 × 3 1/8 in. (38 × 6 × 8 cm)
- Credit Line: Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung, Polychromy Research Project, Frankfurt am Main, acquired 2016 as gift from U. Koch-Brinkmann and V. Brinkmann
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art