Introduction to the popular 19th century British artist, £25.00
Explore / Articles Conserving a statue of Hadrian The well-known
statue of Hadrian dressed as a Greek has long been thought to
demonstrate the emperor’s love of Greek culture. Preparation for
the exhibition Hadrian: Empire and Conflict gave Museum
conservators the opportunity to investigate their suspicions
that the head did not belong on the body. It was decided to
remove plaster between the neck and the drapery across the
statue’s shoulders, which had clearly been added since the
sculpture was restored. The heavy head was slung into a cradle
to secure it while a conservator worked with small chisels and a
hammer to gradually remove the plaster fill. As areas of the
original neckline and drapery were revealed it became obvious
that the head did not, and could not align correctly with the
receiving socket in the body. There was no dowel joining the
head to the body, only a bed of plaster. With the head removed,
the receiving socket and the tenon