Painted Faces: Investigations of Polychromy on Etruscan Antefixes in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek

Extensive studies have been carried out on Etruscan architectural decoration, but so far, little attention has been paid to their polychromy. This article presents the results of various technical analyses of six Etruscan antefixes in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. The antefixes were examined with a variety of non-invasive and invasive methods. The results emphasize the high level of technical competence of the craftsmen. The present study also shows that Etruscan artists often utilized the same pigments and decorative techniques independent of the medium, although important differences have been ascertained for fired and unfired polychromy. The examinations attest the earliest use of Egyptian blue for the rendering of human skin, a custom so far only documented on artefacts belonging to the Roman Period. The overall results of these analyses demonstrate the potential of different scientific techniques as a supplement to traditional research methods in the study of ancient architectural decorations and their polychromy.