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Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group

Vinzenz Brinkmann German
 Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann

Not on view



The painted mouth, eyes, eyebrows, and long locks of hair on this reconstruction are features visible in raking light on an ancient marble figure. The dots on the cheeks are based on those found on a number of other Cycladic figures. Original colors preserved on similar examples informed the choice of blue azurite and red cinnabar here.

" 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



Reconstruction 2006 (first version):

artificial marble and natural pigments in egg tempera

H. ca. 35.5 cm.

Restorations: 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 in the reconstruction:

blue: azurite; red: cinnabar



Acknowledgements:

Friedrich Teja Bach

Nikolaos Stampolidis, Athens

Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens

Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera

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Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera
Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera
Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera
Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera
Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera
Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera
Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera
Reconstruction of a marble Cycladic Figure of the Spedos group, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera

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