Greek Sculpture: Painted Marble, not White!

Sheila Hoffman looks at colour in ancient Greek sculpture. Contrary to popular belief, the ancient Greeks actually painted their statues... they were not white!

Greek sculptors were particularly concerned with proportion, poise, and the idealised perfection of the human body, and their figures in stone and bronze have become some of the most recognisable pieces of art ever produced by any civilization. The majority of Greek sculpture was not polished but painted, often rather garishly for modern tastes. Skin, hair, eyebrows, lips, and patterns on clothing were added in bright colours. Eyes were often inlaid using bone, crystal, or glass.