Color in Ancient Art

This week Kara and Amber discuss color (also known as polychromy) in ancient Mediterranean art and how it is studied and understood today. What role did color play in ancient art? How does polychromy affect the way modern audiences view ancient art? What are the origins of the aesthetic preference for plain white marble sculpture in Western art?

The Color of Life exhibition (Getty Villa)

Kelsey Museum (University of Michigan) resources on color in ancient art

Bibliography for color in ancient art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art resources on color in ancient art

Seated statue of Hatshepsut (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Statue of Leda and the Swan (Getty Villa)

Curator and artist jill moniz

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