Portrait of an infant (inv. no. AC.616.B)

Description: This private portrait of an infant shows curls that recall the Julio-Claudian portraiture, while the powerful neck and open temples seem to indicate subsequent reuse.

Typology: Portrait
Definition: Portrait of an infant (inv. no. AC.616.B)
Collection: Mariemont, Royal Museum.
Inventory number: AC.616.B
Provenance: The head is part of the Joseph Brassinne collection, acquired in 1955. The original provenance is unknown.
Date: 2nd c. CE
Material: White marble.
Dimensions: Height: 24 cm.

Analytical methods: VIS; UV; MO VIS; MO UV; MAXRF
Autoptic examination: Some traces of colour are visible to the naked eye: carmine red on the lips, brown on the hair, black to highlight the eye contour and red-orange for the face contour.
Imaging: No fluorescence has been observed under UV light so the use of lacquers can be excluded.
The microscopic examination has helped to detect the presence of pink pigment for the skin (only one point) and blue shadows in the hair.
Furthermore, the presence of a metallic finish is noted, on a red-orange preparatory layer, on the face contour.
Chemical analysis: The XRF analysis has been led exclusively on the lips and has made it possible to ascertain the use of hematite to create the carmine red colour.

Under painting traces: The black traces on the eye and face contour could be preparatory traces.
Pigments: Ochre (red, pink), vegetal black, gold leaf.
Binder: n.d.
Stratigraphy: Directly on the marble.
Shading: Blue for the hair and black for the skin.
Metallic traces: Traces of gold leaf on the neck.
Tools marks: no
Background colour: no
Apparent marble parts: no
Restorations: no
Polychromy technique: The state of conservation of the polychromy does not allow the stratigraphy of the colours to be ascertained.

Anthropomorphic/realistic: Anthropomorphic
Polychromy type: The polychromy seems to be anthropomorphic: the scant traces of gilding do not allow to understand whether the gilding should be total or partial.