Painted Statues of Antiquity
Unveiling the colorful past of Greek and Roman Art
When one thinks about Ancient Greece and Rome, one of the first things to come to mind are the elegant, white marble statues standing the tests of time.
While certainly elegant, the visual of white marble is far from accurate. Much of this comes from how our present cultures view Antiquity, as well as our past archaeological methods.
Many of the white statues people have come to love were originally painted with a variety of colorful pigments.
These finds may come as a shock to many readers, but it is important in understanding the cultures and attitudes of the Greeks and Romans.
They were painted?
Yes, they were painted. As previously mentioned, this may come as a surprise to many, but research has shown that many of the statues assumed to be white are actually full of many different pigments.
This would make sense given the vast amounts of colors found in many Greek and Roman art and frescos as well as architecture.
Through research, archaeologists how shown how many of Antiquity’s most famous statues had painted skin and hair as well as colorful outfits.
Many modern constructions have attempted to recreate what the statues would have likely looked like.
It’s important to note that the research around this is constantly changing as archaeologists' knowledge of the methods and materials used by the Greeks and Romans improves.
Evidence to support painted statues
Much of the evidence supporting the painted statues theory has been there all along. Paint fragments and residues have been found along the crevasses of many statues.
In a CBS interview with the Chief Scientist of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Marco Leona, he explains:
The evidence is right there … if you just look hard enough. The specks, Leona said, are “still the original color, which gives a sense of what she would have looked like.”
Research methods involve the use of various types of microscopes to detect traces of different pigments.
Other methods include multi-spectral photography and physical-chemical methods that analyze different color pigmentations.
Not only is there modern evidence but there are also contemporary accounts by Romans mentioning the color of statues.
Pliny the Elder writes in his Natural History:
Statuary has undergone changes in our own day, even at Rome, where portraits, more especially, have been left in their natural color. This was the result of the practice introduced in painting, of representing statues in encaustic.
Why we didn’t know before
The idea of the statues of ancient Greece and Rome being white largely comes from the Renaissance.
Many of the sculptors of the time (Michelangelo and Donatello) saw the excavated statues that already had all of their paint worn away.
In the same CBS interview mentioned earlier, Chief Scientist, Leona, responds to the question:
If sculptors like Michelangelo were inspired by the Greeks, by the Romans, why didn’t they, too, paint their sculptures?
Because they never saw the paint on that sculpture…
The lack of paint on the original statues most likely comes from the packed dirt wearing down the statues as they were buried. As well as the original excavators most likely scrubbing off any remaining paint.
These ideas would be further established in later perceptions of Antiquity, with the author of Theory of Colors, Goethe, writing:
…people of refinement avoid vivid colors in their dress and the objects that are about them.
Given the circumstances of how the statues were discovered as well as Renaissance artists interpreting what they saw, it is natural to conclude the Greeks and Romans kept their statues the marble white color.
Furthering research
While much progress has been made in the research of the statues, there is still much to be done. Specifically with the methods by which the paint is sourced and made.
Many assumptions are made when it comes to the strength and shading of pigments on the statues. Trial and error is an essential part of the process for many of the researchers.
To paint or not to paint?
A natural question to ask about these statues is how we should view them in the modern day. Should all the statues be viewed only in color? Does that discredit the characteristically white marble art and architecture inspired by Antiquity?
In my opinion, the answer to both questions is an astounding No.
The colorful statues are part of Ancient Greece and Rome’s history, they reflect a lot of the moods and emotions felt within their perspective societies.
That being said, the white marble we are used to seeing is no less beautiful or refined. Both have their own representation in art and history.
It’s also important to mention that the statues of the Renaissance were never painted. Instead, they opted to display emotion and the human form through perspective and detailed carvings.
Personally, I enjoy both types of statues. The color shows the emotions and captures the historic details of their subjects. While the white ones display the amazing craftsmanship of the sculptors.
Final thoughts
What I love about history and archaeology is how it is always changing our assumptions about how we view the past.
Through research, we can see that Greece and Rome were a lot more fun and colorful when it came to everyday life.
It begs the question of what other parts of our history have been lost to misinterpretation.
Until next time…
