Pair of eyes

5th century BCE or later

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 156

Bronze, marble, frit, quartz, and obsidian

Greek and Roman statues were designed to give a colorful lifelike impression. Marble and wood sculptures were brightly painted, and bronze statues were originally a pale fleshlike brown. Lips and nipples were often inlaid with copper, and teeth with silver. Eyes were usually made separately and set into prepared sockets. This pair, designed for an over-lifesize statue, gives a sense of the potent immediacy that ancient sculpture could convey.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Pair of eyes
Period: Classical
Date: 5th century BCE or later
Culture: Greek
Medium: Bronze, marble, frit, quartz, obsidian
Dimensions: maximum H. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm)
maximum length 2in. (5.1cm)
Classification: Bronzes
Credit Line: Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Cullman Gift and Norbert Schimmel Bequest, 1991
Object Number: 1991.11.3a, b
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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