The rarest blue

An exceptional find of lapis lazuli in the polychromy of a funerary portrait from ancient Palmyra

Bibliographic Data

ID8353462
AuthorsCecilie Brøns (0000-0001-7089-7958, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, corresponding author), Signe Buccarella Hedegaard (Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek), J Bredal‐Jørgensen (The School of Conservation The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation (KADK) Esplanaden 34 DK‐1263 Copenhagen Denmark), Jørn Bredal-Jørgensen (Royal Danish Academy – Architecture, Design, Conservation), David Buti (0000-0001-6347-6506, National Gallery of Denmark), Gianluca Pastorelli (0000-0001-6926-1952, National Gallery of Denmark)
Year2020
Volume62
Issue3
Pages506-520
Publication date2020-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeometry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-813X • E-ISSN: 1475-4754
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/arcm.12533
OpenAlexW2997409761
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited8

The current interdisciplinary study of a funerary portrait has provided the first identification of a blue pigment on Palmyrene sculpture. The exceptional attestation of lapis lazuli on the examined portrait confirms the use of this highly valuable semiprecious stone in ancient polychromy, which was previously thought to be a later addition to the painter's palette. Considering that the archaeological record contains numerous minor objects carved from lapis lazuli, there are astonishingly few known instances of its use as a pigment. This Palmyrene discovery is only the third known example from Antiquity

Archaeology · Art · Art history · Geography · Painting · Palette (painting) · Portrait · Sculpture · Visual arts · Archaeological Research and Protection · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis

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