Met Museum Exhibition Reveals Ancient Greek and Roman Statues Were Originally Painted

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will open "Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color" on July 5, 2022, running through March 26, 2023. The exhibition challenges the common perception of classical statuary as white marble by presenting color reconstructions of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, based on scientific research. Fourteen full-scale physical reconstructions by Prof. Dr. V. Brinkmann, Head of the Department of Antiquities at the Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection, and Dr. U. Koch-Brinkmann, who have long studied polychromy, will be displayed alongside original works from the Met's collection. The reconstructions result from studies including 3D imaging and advanced scientific techniques to identify original surface treatments. The exhibition explores four themes: discovery and identification of color on ancient artworks; reconstruction and interpretation of polychromy; the role of color in conveying meaning; and the reception of polychromy in later periods. It spans from Cycladic idols of the third millennium BCE to Roman imperial portraiture of the 2nd century CE, with 40 original works in the permanent galleries. Met Director Max Hollein stated that the show will activate the Greek and Roman galleries as never before, bringing history to life through rigorous research and scientific inquiry. The exhibition aims to push visitors to reconsider the original appearance of ancient sculptures.