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Source Image: PR307_01_03 of Unfinished Togate Male of Aphrodisias: Sculptor's Workshop

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Description

Side view of the togate male statue from the Sculptor's Workshop.

Monument
Aphrodisias: Sculptor's Workshop 
Monument Part
Unfinished Togate Male 
Monument Type
Statuary 
Material(s)
Aphrodisian marble (Visual identification)  
Date
circa ad 400 - pre ad 450 
Collections
Aphrodisias, Site and Museum  

Location

Original Location
Aphrodisias 
Current Location
Aphrodisias Museum 

Evidence for working practices

1. Toolmarks

Process
Roughing-out
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Vertical (90°)
Force: Medium
Description
Rough point chiselling, the remains of roughing-out, can be seen around the back of the figure's head and down the back of his neck. This rough stone acted as a sort of buttress to support the head while it was being worked on.

Notes

The very flat back of this statue is characteristic of many of the statues at Aphrodisias. The carver seems here to be working with a roughly squared block of stone, making use of the whole block so as not to waste too much stone. This figure's head is also distinctly less finished than the rest of the figure, which is essentially finished. This might indicate a division of labour between specialist portrait- and figure-carvers. This head has been interpreted as roughed-out ready for the addition of any portrait and used as evidence for the production for stock of honorific statues. However, the facial features of this figure are defined and it would have been difficult to carve this into just anyone. It seems most likely, then, that this was simply an unfinished statue rather than a stock piece, aborted perhaps because the commissioner changed their mind or failed to pay for it to be finished.

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