Ancient Restoration in Roman Polychromy: Detecting Aesthetic Changes?

• Published in: Heritage Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 829 - 848
• Main Authors: Neri, Elisabetta, Nasr, Nesrine, Strivay, David
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.06.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: 2nd century; 3rd century; 4th century; 5th century; Archaeology; Archeology; Archeology (arts and humanities); Archéologie; Arts & humanities; Arts & sciences humaines; Conservation; MA-XRF imaging; Materials Science (miscellaneous); micro-stratigraphy; Microscopy; Museums; Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences; Physique, chimie, mathématiques & sciences de la terre; restoration; Roman polychromy; Sculpture; Structural painting; Theater; video microscopy; France; Tunisia
• ISSN: 2571-9408; 2571-9408
• DOI: 10.3390/heritage5020045

Few instances of material evidence for ancient colour restorations have been documented over the last 20 years, during which time the scientific approach to the study of polychromy has been defined. This article presents eight new cases of ancient restoration of colour from the Roman Imperial Age. By combining observations in visible and UV light and video microscopy with a micro-stratigraphic approach, MA-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and contextual archaeological data, we have observed evidence which could suggest an aesthetic change in the use of colour between the 2nd and 4th centuries CE: from polychrome and multitone effects to the use of monochromatic, flat, and uniform colour finishes.