Saturday, March 03, 2012

What does color say?

The Uffizi in Italy has at last done some tests on that most modest of sculptural icons- the Medici Venus. The virginal white marble lady covering her private parts had been popular for 4 centuries- partly due to her modesty, which made her acceptable to even the Vicorians.

But what ho!?! Could the statue have been more alluring in its early days?
http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/ancient-statue-of-medici-venus-once-had-red-lips_761925.html

Chemical analysis shows that she originally wore bright red lipstick and had laminated golden hair. Her virginal whiteness came from a savage restoration job in France in the 18th century.  It wasn't a case of political correction- just bad judgement.

The question is, though, is she more symbolic in color, or in the monochrome? Does it make her less than the perfect body that the Greeks so much admired in their male forms???(Picture from Northwestern University)

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