Polychromy
The art of painting sculptures or buildings with many colors.
What is it?
Polychromy means "many colors." Artists use it to make sculptures look more realistic or to imitate other materials. For example, a terracotta bust might be painted to look like bronze. The bust of an unknown emperor was originally painted with a dark brown lacquer and gold speckles to imitate bronze. Over time, the paint was removed, revealing the natural clay.
Why it matters
Many ancient sculptures were originally painted, but the paint has worn off. Understanding polychromy helps us imagine how these artworks looked when they were new.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more exhibits with polychromy.