Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Were the Parthenon Sculptures Painted?
Speaker
Professor Katherine Schwab
Coordinator
Hiromi Imai-Dellorio
Our understanding of the original appearance of
ancient Greek sculpture is rapidly changing due
to new technologies that can detect pigments. In
ancient Greece, a carved marble sculpture was
understood to be unfinished until it was painted.
Pigments were sourced locally and across the
Mediterranean region, forming a large economic
network. This lecture will present new information
about the range of bold colors and approaches
to new polychromatic renderings. We will briefly
examine a selection of ancient Greek sculpture,
before delving into some examples of the
Parthenon’s architecture and sculpture.
ancient Greek sculpture is rapidly changing due
to new technologies that can detect pigments. In
ancient Greece, a carved marble sculpture was
understood to be unfinished until it was painted.
Pigments were sourced locally and across the
Mediterranean region, forming a large economic
network. This lecture will present new information
about the range of bold colors and approaches
to new polychromatic renderings. We will briefly
examine a selection of ancient Greek sculpture,
before delving into some examples of the
Parthenon’s architecture and sculpture.
Speaker Bio
Presenter: Katherine Schwab has a Ph.D. in Art
History from the Institute of Fine Arts at NYU. Her
research areas include the Parthenon metopes,
polychromy, historic plaster casts and the Caryatid
hairstyles. Scans of her metope drawings are
installed in the Acropolis Museum. She is a
Professor Emerita of Art History & Visual Culture
at Fairfield University. Recently retired, she resides
in La Jolla.
History from the Institute of Fine Arts at NYU. Her
research areas include the Parthenon metopes,
polychromy, historic plaster casts and the Caryatid
hairstyles. Scans of her metope drawings are
installed in the Acropolis Museum. She is a
Professor Emerita of Art History & Visual Culture
at Fairfield University. Recently retired, she resides
in La Jolla.
11