On the Necessity of Colour in Greek Sculpture

Greek sculpture was never meant to be seen as white marble alone. This book explores the colours, materials, and artistic collaborations that brought ancient statues to life. Combining new research with a comprehensive historical narrative, it argues that polychromy was inseparable from sculptural form and central to the communicative power of Greek art. The result is a fresh perspective on one of the most enduring traditions of classical antiquity. The internationally acclaimed researcher of the use of colour in classical sculpture, Jan Stubbe Østergaard, presents an overview of his research of polychromy in classical Greek sculpture. Østergaard will also present the newest findings within this field. The book is filled with interesting observations and insights, unexpected juxtapositions, and poses thought-provoking questions. This monograph will fill this important lacuna in the literature, and it will immediately be an essential point of reference and, no doubt, discussion in international scholarship in art history, classical archaeology, history, classics, and art conservation.