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Document Details :

Title: Private Roman Female Portraits: Reworked or Pieced?
Author(s): HIRST, M. , SALAPATA, G.
Journal: BABESCH
Volume: 79    Date: 2004   
Pages: 143-158
DOI: 10.2143/BAB.79.0.504740

Abstract :
In this article we re-examine in detail a group of private Roman female portraits often considered to have been reworked through the chiselling away of all or part of the coiffure, followed by the addition of new updated portions. Our aim is to expand on Elizabeth Bartman’s criticism of the modern theory that Roman women followed fashions in hair so closely that they frequently commissioned the updating of the coiffures on their marble images. We argue instead that the appearance of these supposedly reworked images can better be explained in technical terms, as a result of initial piecing or later repair.

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