Color and Light: A Hellenistic Terracotta Figurine of a Maenad from Myrina

During the Hellenistic period and under growing influence of art painting, polychromy Greek terracotta figurines focused not only on an elaborate rendering color, but also interplay light shadow. Some best-preserved examples clearly show subtlety such pictorial effects. Among them is a statuette standing Maenad, held in collections National Archaeological Museum Athens (inv. 5000). Dating back to 150–100 BCE, it high-quality testament sculptural, as well pictorial, coroplastic production workshops Myrina (Eolide, Turkey). Combining multi-scale examination, multi-spectral imaging non-invasive spectroscopic investigations (XRF, FTIR, FORS), scientific study artefact was carried out within framework Pilina project, collaborative research program between Louvre, C2RMF, French School Athens. This article presents main results by discussing color scheme, identification some pigments colorants (clays kaolinite group, ochres, cinnabar, Egyptian blue, anthraquinone plant origin, likely madder, gold leaf), painting techniques aiming at achieving chiaroscuro