| Resum: |
This study analyses a group of four female sculptures preserved in the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya, confirming their antiquity and placing them within the Roman sculptural tradition. Through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates archaeology, art history, conservation-restoration and archaeometric analysis, the research provides a comprehensive assessment of these works, focusing on their stylistic features, material composition and alteration processes. The conservation analysis has identified significant evidence of prolonged burial, including oxalate patinas, surface erosion, fractures and structural modifications. These findings confirm the archaeological origin of the sculptures and rule out modern alterations. Two of the pieces studied, MAC-9559 and MAC-22055, are particularly noteworthy, as they display clear signs of reuse in antiquity, including intentional flattening and perforations, suggesting that they were repurposed before their final discard. From a stylistic perspective, the study situates the sculptures within their respective chronological frameworks. MAC-15089 belongs to the Julio-Claudian portrait tradition, reflecting ideals of austerity and gravitas. MAC-15090 shows a more schematic interpretation of Claudio-Neronian hairstyles, suggesting its production in a Hispanic workshop, a hypothesis further supported by the material analysis, which points to a possible provenance from Andalusian quarries. MAC-22055 follows Antonine stylistic models, particularly the hairstyle type associated with Faustina the Elder, characteristic of high-status female representations from this period. By contrast, MAC-9559 departs from conventional Roman portraiture and presents features closer to idealised images of divinities, although its identification remains complex due to ancient modifications that altered its original function. One of the main contributions of this study is the convergence between stylistic and material analyses, which have independently confirmed the antiquity of the sculptures. The integration of these methodologies has not only validated their authenticity, but also provided key information about their historical trajectories, exposure to different environments and possible reinterpretations in antiquity. This research highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to the study of classical sculpture and opens up new perspectives on the production, circulation and reuse of Roman works in Hispania. |
visitant ::
identificació
(Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya)
