Pair of eyes

Unknown

5th century BCE or later · Bronze, marble, frit, quartz, obsidian · Greek and Roman Art

Bronze, marble, frit, quartz, and obsidian Greek and Roman statues were designed to give a colorful lifelike impression. Marble and wood sculptures were brightly painted, and bronze statues were originally a pale fleshlike brown. Lips and nipples were often inlaid with copper, and teeth with silver. Eyes were usually made separately and set into prepared sockets. This pair, designed for an over-lifesize statue, gives a sense of the potent immediacy that ancient sculpture could convey.

Artist

Unknown

Date

5th century BCE or later

Medium

Bronze, marble, frit, quartz, obsidian

Culture

Greek

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Cullman Gift and Norbert Schimmel Bequest, 1991