Colorful Sculptures of Antiquity

When you think back to sculptures from Greek and Roman antiquity that you’ve seen in art history books or museums, you probably think of white marble (or maybe a kind of unremarkable light gray), right? The image above is a prime example.

But did you know most of these sculptures were once painted in vivid colors?  

The subject of whether and to what extent ancient architecture and sculptures were once painted has been under debate since at least the 18th century. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that new technologies involving ultraviolet light and glancing light provided some game-changing concrete evidence. 

Today, this history has been widely researched; yet many art lovers still don’t know about it. Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung (one of the world’s most prominent sculpture museums, based in Frankfurt, Germany) is working to change all that. This work is happening in part through an elegant website that takes visitors on an informative tour of the research that has happened over the centuries, complete with images of some stunning color reconstructions.

If you’re interested in sculpture, painting, art history, or color in general, I can’t recommend this resource enough. Click here to check it out.