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Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head

Vinzenz Brinkmann German
Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann

2014/ 2020

Not on view

This study of the so-called Treu Head (named after the archaeologist who first studied its preserved color) reconstructs the extraordinarily rich traces of polychromy on the skin and hair of the marble original. Recent scientific investigations by the British Museum identified a pinkish skin color, consisting of a complex mixture of calcium carbonate, hematite, goethite, and Egyptian blue, applied to the highly polished marble surface. Carbon-based black was used as underpainting for the eyes, eyelids, and brows and remains visible as a dark shadow on the skin color, as seen on the left side of the reconstructed face. The nuanced application of pigment on the original is expressed in the painterly details and highlights of the features on the right side of the reconstruction.

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head, Vinzenz Brinkmann, Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Original: Roman marble Head of a goddess, so-called Treu Head, 2nd c. AD, British Museum, London, inv. 1884,0617.1. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann

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Original: Yellow ocher and reddish-brown ocher on the hair. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Original: Black (carbon black) for the underpainting of eyelids and iris, pinkish brown (yellow and red ocher with Egyptian blue and calcite) skin color. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann

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Original: Black (carbon black) for the underpainting of eyelids, Egyptian blue for the white of the eye. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann

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Original: Pink madder lake in the area between the lips and pinkish brown (yellow and red ocher with Egyptian blue and calcite) skin color. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann

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Original: Pinkish brown (yellow and red ocher with Egyptian blue and calcite) skin color under the nose. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann

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Reconstruction process: Rich traces of Polychromy as documented on a watercolor by F. Anderson (1888) published in “Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts 1889”

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Original: Pinkish brown (yellow and red ocher with Egyptian blue and calcite) skin color at the chin. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann

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Comparandum: Red underpainting of eyelashes and iris on a Roman marble statue of an Amazon from Herculaneum, Antiquarium di Ercolano, inv. SAP 87021. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann. Reproduced with permission from MINISTERO DELLA CULTURA- PARCO ARCHEOLOGICO DI ERCOLANO

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Comparandum: Modulated skin color, red cheeks and lips, brown iris on a Etruscan urn, Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe, inv. 62/34. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann

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Reconstruction process: Marble stucco and natural pigments on plaster cast. The left half is showing the underpainting shining through the layer of the skin color. The right half is showing a rather final stage with modulation and highlights. Image Vinzenz Brinkmann

Title: Study 1 of the color scheme of the so-called Treu Head

Artist: Vinzenz Brinkmann

Artist: Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann

Date: 2014/ 2020

Medium: Marble stucco on plaster cast after 3D scan, natural pigments in egg tempera

Dimensions: 14 9/16 × 10 1/4 × 10 1/4 in. (37 × 26 × 26 cm)

Credit Line: Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung, Polychromy Research Project, Frankfurt am Main

The Met

Greek and Roman Art at The Met

The Museum's collection of Greek and Roman art comprises more than 30,000 works ranging in date from the Neolithic period to the time of the Roman emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in A.D. 312.