Marble head of a figure

Technical analysis: Multiband imaging, optical microscopy, Ramen spectroscopy





This fine-grained (MGS = 1mm) heteroblastic, white marble head and part of the neck are all that survive from a figure that would have measured approximately 65.0 cm high. The head is lyre-shaped and tilted back with a broad rounded chin and a long, wedge-shaped, aquiline nose on the otherwise smooth facial plane. The top of the head is flat. A thin shallow groove delineates the head from the cylindrical neck. There are possible ghosts for anatomical eyes with pupils and upper eyelashes, as well as a polos. A red streak is visible on the crown toward proper left side of face. This pigment appears very fine-grained, and deposited over the previously weathered calcite grains. Analysis identified hematite and anatase (TiO2). This pigment is likely modern and accidental. The area close to the nose has more linear tool marks than the adjacent area of the eye. Overall weathering is not unusual, although the depressed lines suggesting the eye shape are uncommon.


Georgios Gavalas, Sandy MacGillivray, Dorothy Abramitis, Federico Carò and Elizabeth Hendrix