Female head from a grave relief.
Summary
The relief fragment is made of white, fine-grained marble. The fragment has been examined with Visible Iinduced Luminescence. Pigments were seen as evenly distributed luminescent spots on the cape, and a few in the hair. Whether or not this indicates the presence of Egyptian Blue is unclear.
Description of object
The woman seen in profile is gazing upwards, so she was probably seated. Her hair is wound in a roll around her forehead, and the himation is drawn up over the back of her head.
Choice of methods
Visual examination
- Macroscopic
Technical imaging
- VIL
Technical imaging
April, 2010: VIL: The results were individual luminescent pigments spread over the relief, but concentrated on the cape and hair. The luminescence was limited, and it is therefore not entirely safe to say whether or not it denotes the presence of Egyptian Blue.
Bibliography
F. Poulsen (1951), Catalogue of Ancient Sculpture in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 215.
M. Moltesen (1995), Catalogue. Greece in the Classical Period. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 40.
- IN 469
- Relief
- c. 340 B.C.E.
- Classical
- White, fine-grained marble.
- Bought in Athens.
- H. 24 cm.
