Statue of running Niobid

Summary

The statue is made of Parian lychnites marble. The nose, right hand and part of the overfold are missing, as is the front part of the left foot, two toes on the right foot, and several small parts of the drapery folds which were attached separately. Vague traces of blue colour in the folds of the garment, and of brown colour on the lower folds were observable in 1936, when Arndt wrote the text for BrBr. The statue has been examined with Visible Induced Luminescence, but showed no signs of the use of Egyptian blue in the original colouring.

In 1962 a cast was made from a piece of the drapery. In July, 1990 a marble sample was taken for an isotopic analysis.

Description of object

The head has been broken off, as has the left arm in two places, there are accordingly breaks in the garment behind the neck. The nose is broken. The right hand and part of the overfold are missing, as is the front of the left foot, two toes on the right foot, and several small parts of the drapery folds which were attached separately, some with pins, and some only with plaster, probably for re-use in Roman times. Holes in the curls of the hair, the left ear-lobe and the belt were meant for bronze fittings.

A young woman dressed in a belted peplos with a long overfold (apoptygma), the edge of which she holds in her hands drawing it over the head, is running towards the right, while she looks back. Around her head she wears a kerchief or sakkos, the front part of which is thick with a narrow edge along the forehead. Bronze fittings were attached to these.

Choice of methods

Visual examination

• Macroscopic

Technical imaging

• VIL

Marble identification method

• Stable isotope. Results: d13C, 3,57 - d18O, -2,92.

Technical imaging

February 2010: Tha statue was examined with VIL, but showed no indication of Egyptian blue.

Bibliography

F. Poulsen 1951, Catalogue of Ancient Sculpture in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. No. 398

M. Moltesen 1995, Catalogue. Greece in the Classical Period. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. No. 1.