The head was originally part of a complete statue, probably (judging by the shoulder-length curly hair) one of Apollo, made up of various sections (e.g. head, arms, legs, some of the locks of hair) produced separately by lost-wax casting then joined into one whole - a leg from the same sculpture is in the Louvre (Br 69). Its eyes probably originally held glass, marble or ivoryinlays, which were held in with surviving bronze plates, which curl outwards to form eyelashes. Its lips seem to have been plated with reddish copper to imitate their natural colour.[1]
A bronze leg, probably from the same statue (Louvre)
DiscoveryEdit
In 1834, the Louvre managed to purchase the first large bronze statue found in modern times after its discovery in Italy near the Island of Elba. Two years later a complete statue was discovered near Tamassos on Cyprus and was immediately retrieved by locals who dragged it from its position using oxcarts. During its journey the statue fell apart losing legs, arms and its torso.[2]
ProvenanceEdit
The head was acquired by the 6th Duke of Devonshire at Smyrna from H.P. Borrell in 1838.[3] The other parts of the statue were lost, but it is believed that a leg in the Louvre was originally part of this statue.[2]
The 6th Duke of Devonshire and his successors kept it at their residence of Chatsworth House, from which it takes its name. It was loaned to the Fitzwilliam Museum in the mid-1930s, and was acquired from the 11th Duke by the British Museum in 1958. It has the British Museum catalogue reference 1958 0418 1 and is on show there, in Room 15.
NotesEdit
^bronze head of Apollo: the 'Chatsworth Head', British Museum, accessed January 2016
^ abGreek bronze statuary: from the beginnings through the fifth century B.C., Carol C. Mattusch, p.3, 1988, accessed August 2010
^'The Chatsworth Head', A. J. B. Wace, The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 58, Part 1 (1938), pp. 90-95, accessed August 2010
ReferencesEdit
D.E.L. Haynes, The technique of Greek Bronze (Mainz am Rhein, 1992)
C.C. Mattusch, Greek Bronze statuary (Cornell University Press, 1988)
L. Burn, The British Museum book of G-1, revised edition (London, The British Museum Press, 1999)
Further readingEdit
Dafas, K. A., 2019. Greek Large-Scale Bronze Statuary: The Late Archaic and Classical Periods, Institute of Classical Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London, Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies, Monograph, BICS Supplement 138 (London), pp. 126-129, pls 137-145.
External linksEdit
Bronze head of Apollo: the 'Chatsworth Head', British Museum
A. J. B. Wace, 'The Chatsworth Head', The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 58, Part 1 (1938), pp. 90-95
August 27, 2023
chatsworth, head, slightly, over, life, size, bronze, head, dating, around, which, british, museum, yearc, bcetypecast, bronzedimensions31, locationbritish, museum, london, contents, description, discovery, provenance, notes, references, further, reading, exte. The Chatsworth Head is a slightly over life size bronze head dating to around 460 BCE which is now in the British Museum The Chatsworth HeadYearc 460 BCETypeCast bronzeDimensions31 6 cm 12 4 in LocationBritish Museum London Contents 1 Description 2 Discovery 3 Provenance 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksDescription EditThe head was originally part of a complete statue probably judging by the shoulder length curly hair one of Apollo made up of various sections e g head arms legs some of the locks of hair produced separately by lost wax casting then joined into one whole a leg from the same sculpture is in the Louvre Br 69 Its eyes probably originally held glass marble or ivory inlays which were held in with surviving bronze plates which curl outwards to form eyelashes Its lips seem to have been plated with reddish copper to imitate their natural colour 1 A bronze leg probably from the same statue Louvre Discovery EditIn 1834 the Louvre managed to purchase the first large bronze statue found in modern times after its discovery in Italy near the Island of Elba Two years later a complete statue was discovered near Tamassos on Cyprus and was immediately retrieved by locals who dragged it from its position using oxcarts During its journey the statue fell apart losing legs arms and its torso 2 Provenance EditThe head was acquired by the 6th Duke of Devonshire at Smyrna from H P Borrell in 1838 3 The other parts of the statue were lost but it is believed that a leg in the Louvre was originally part of this statue 2 The 6th Duke of Devonshire and his successors kept it at their residence of Chatsworth House from which it takes its name It was loaned to the Fitzwilliam Museum in the mid 1930s and was acquired from the 11th Duke by the British Museum in 1958 It has the British Museum catalogue reference 1958 0418 1 and is on show there in Room 15 Notes Edit bronze head of Apollo the Chatsworth Head British Museum accessed January 2016 a b Greek bronze statuary from the beginnings through the fifth century B C Carol C Mattusch p 3 1988 accessed August 2010 The Chatsworth Head A J B Wace The Journal of Hellenic Studies Vol 58 Part 1 1938 pp 90 95 accessed August 2010References EditD E L Haynes The technique of Greek Bronze Mainz am Rhein 1992 C C Mattusch Greek Bronze statuary Cornell University Press 1988 L Burn The British Museum book of G 1 revised edition London The British Museum Press 1999 Further reading EditDafas K A 2019 Greek Large Scale Bronze Statuary The Late Archaic and Classical Periods Institute of Classical Studies School of Advanced Study University of London Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies Monograph BICS Supplement 138 London pp 126 129 pls 137 145 External links EditBronze head of Apollo the Chatsworth Head British Museum A J B Wace The Chatsworth Head The Journal of Hellenic Studies Vol 58 Part 1 1938 pp 90 95 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chatsworth Head amp oldid 1088580542, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
