Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Overview

• Exhibition showcases the use of color in ancient sculptures.
• Features works by Vinzenz Brinkmann and Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann on reconstructing ancient sculptures with their original colors.
• Includes a variety of ancient Greek, Roman, and Cycladic sculptures and artifacts, demonstrating the historical use of color.

Notable Reconstructions by Vinzenz Brinkmann and Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann

• Marble Funerary Stele of Phrasikleia
  • Medium: Polymethyl metacrylate.
  • Year: 2010.
• Cycladic Figure of the Spedos Group
  • Medium: Synthetic marble, natural pigments in egg tempera.
  • Year: 2006.
• Marble Finial in the Form of a Sphinx
  • Medium: Cast from polymethyl metacrylate, natural pigments, gold foil, copper.
• Cuirass-Torso from the Athenian Acropolis
  • Medium: Plaster cast, natural pigments, gold foil.
  • Year: 2005.
• Riace Warriors A & B
  • Medium: Bronze cast.
  • Year: 2015-2016.
• Alexander Sarcophagus
  • Medium: Synthetic material, natural pigments in egg tempera.
  • Year: 2007.
• Terme Boxer & Ruler
  • Medium: Bronze cast.
  • Year: 2018.
• Chios Kore from the Athenian Acropolis
  • Medium: Cast from polymethyl metacrylat, natural pigments in egg tempera.
  • Year: 2012.
• Caligula
  • Medium: Synthetic marble cast, natural pigments in egg tempera.
  • Year: 2005.

Important Historical Artifacts

• Bronze Head of a Griffin
  • Origin: Greek.
  • Date: Third quarter of the 7th century BCE.
• Bronze Horse
  • Origin: Greek.
  • Date: Late 8th century BCE.
• Terracotta Cosmetic Vase
  • Origin: East Greek.
  • Date: 4th quarter of the 6th century BCE.
• Marble Capital and Finial in the Form of a Sphinx
  • Origin: Greek, Attic.
  • Date: ca. 530 BCE.
• Bronze Torso of a Youth
  • Origin: Greek.
  • Date: 1st half of the 5th century BCE.
• Terracotta Nolan Amphora
  • Origin: Greek, Attic.
  • Date: ca. 480-470 BCE.

Roman Artifacts

• Puteal with Narcissus and Echo
  • Medium: Marble.
  • Date: 2nd century.
• Glass Portrait Head of a Woman
  • Medium: Glass.
  • Date: 1st half of the 2nd century CE.
• Sardonyx Cameo Portrait of the Emperor Augustus
  • Medium: Sardonyx.
  • Date: ca. 41-54 CE.

Other Significant Pieces

• Terracotta Lekythos
  • Origin: Greek, South Italian, probably Paestan.
  • Date: Mid-4th century BCE.
• Bronze Statuette of Aphrodite
  • Origin: Greek.
  • Date: 3rd-1st century BCE.
• Ivory Portrait Head of Emperor Augustus
  • Medium: Ivory.
  • Date: ca. 27 BCE-14 CE.

Conclusion

• The exhibition highlights the vibrant history of color in ancient sculpture.
• It draws attention to the meticulous work of reconstruction and the historical context of each artifact.
• Provides insight into the methods and materials used in the original creation and modern reconstruction of these ancient artworks.