Bust of Hercules (inv. no. A091143)
Item
- Description
- The sculpture preserves the torso and the upper part of the legs, while the head, arms and part of shoulders are missing. The musculature is rendered with careful plastic attention. The body is shown in a slight twist. In the pubic area, there is a fig leaf added in the nineteenth century.
Artwork
- Typology
- Ideal sculpture
- Definition
- Bust of Hercules (inv. no. A091143)
- Collection
- Milan, Archaeological Museum
- Inventory number
- A091143
- Provenance
- Milan, Herculean baths of Maximian
- Date
- 2nd c. CE
- Material
- White marble
- Dimensions
- n.d.
Analytical results
- Analytical methods
- VIS
- UV
- MAXRF
- Autoptic examination
- Traces of paint are preserved on the lower part of the back of the left leg.
- Imaging
- 40 points were examined under the microscope: in most of this points it was possible to observe a translucent yellow preparatory layer, traces of black lines to provide chiaroscuro were also documented and finally orange pigment on the rest of the body.
- Chemical analysis
- no
Polychromy technique
- Under painting traces
- Translucent yellow
- Pigments
- Translucent yellow, black, brownish, orange
- Binder
- n.d.
- Stratigraphy
-
p
Phase I: traslucent yellow directly on marble
Phase II: orange
Phase III: brownish or black for shadow - Shading
- Brownish for the skin.
- Metallic traces
- n.d.
- Tools marks
- n.d.
- Background colour
- no
- Apparent marble parts
- no
- Restorations
- no
- Polychromy technique
- The palette is characterized by yellow, orange, and brownish tones. The flesh tones are colored orange. The shadows are rendered with a brownish color for the flesh
Polychromy type
- Predominant colour
- Orange
- Polychromy type
- Remains of ancient polychromy are found on all sides of the statue. This confirms that the work was displayed in a place that allowed viewing from all sides.