Beauty is skin deep: evidence for the original appearance of classical statuary

ORGANIC SUBSTANCES AT METAL SURFACES: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AND THE ELDER PLINY's ACCOUNT*

“…The findings provided by the SAM analysis of the bronze are consistent with all of passages A–D. In other words, despite the almost unanimous scepticism with which Pliny's accounts—especially the accounts somehow related to scientific topics—are generally received (Wallace‐Hadrill 1990; Craddock and Giumlia‐Mair 1993; French 1994, 241–55), he proves to be a quite reliable reference allowing us to explain the ‘high’ amount of carbon species found on the metallic surface of the artefact.…”

“…In the light of points (i)–(iii), we can therefore think of organic substances as being the main source of the carbon enrichment observed on the metal side of the bronze, and the practice in the Roman world of rubbing bronze objects with oil, pitch and bitumen (all hydrocarbon‐based substances) seems to be the most sensible explanation. Pliny dealt with this topic in several passages of the Naturalis Historia , as remarked by Craddock and Giumlia‐Mair (1993, 35–6):…”

“…Besides the aesthetic purposes for bronze objects that have been thoroughly analysed by other authors (Craddock and Giumlia‐Mair 1993), it seems worthwhile to search for other possible motivations that prompted the Romans to use these substances in metallurgical contexts, and to discuss how such motivations are applicable to the cases of the fistula and the bronze. In his description of olive trees and olive oil, at NH 15.34, Pliny shows that he is aware of the beneficial effects of organics on various materials.…”

“…Pliny the Elder offers by far the most detailed account on the use of oil, pitch and bitumen in metallurgical contexts in several passages of books 33, 34 and 35 of the Naturalis Historia (Halleux 1975, 72; Corso et al 1988), and references to him are found in ancient testimonies from the third century ad onwards (Lindsay 1911; Caley 1926, 1151; Caley 1927, 981; Fell 1982; Hughes 1988). An elegant study by Craddock and Giumlia‐Mair (1993) addressed Pliny's account on metal (bronze) surfaces treated with organic substances. However, that study made no reference to experimental archaeometric results; nor have results of that kind ever been reported in any of the most thorough studies of Pliny's work (Bailey 1932; Halleux 1975; Healy 1986, 1999; Serbat 1986).…”

Roman Metal Votives from Denmark

“…The famous bronze statues found in the sea near Riace in Calabrien had lips and eyebrows of copper, teeth of silver, and eyes of ivory [8,9]. The same polychrome use of different metals and other materials is known from a number of other Greek and Roman statues.…”