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Source Image: PR307_02_14 of Unfinished Hermes of Aphrodisias: Miscellaneous Statuary

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Description

Unfinished Hermes from the West Necropolis.

Monument
Aphrodisias: Miscellaneous Statuary 
Monument Part
Unfinished Hermes 
Monument Type
Statuary 
Material(s)
Aphrodisian marble (Visual identification)  
Date
circa ad 100 - circa ad 300 
Keywords
HermesMeasuring Point  
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 is visible on the support to the left and the rough stone beneath the figure's left hand. These are the remains of roughing-out of the figure.

2. Measuring point

Process
Measurement
Description
Five measuring points are visible on the figure's right leg and at least further three on his left leg. These appear to have been marked out during or perhaps even before the roughing-out process.

3. - Toolmarks

Process
Rough shaping
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Steep (60-70°)
Force: Medium
Description
The figure's cloak has been roughly worked with the point chisel but not taken any further.

3. - Toolmarks

Process
Rough shaping
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Vertical (90°)
Force: Gentle
Description
Point chiselling is also visible on the figure's lower left leg.

4. Toolmarks

Process
Rough shaping
Tool
Roundel
Method
Angle: Shallow (40-50°)
Force: Medium
Description
The flesh of the figure is shaped with a round-headed chisel, the marks of which are very clear on the legs and abdomen. This is relatively rough work which was probably meant to be gone over again with a flatter chisel.

Notes

As on other unfinished carvings from Aphrodisias, it is clear that the carver was working from the front of the block to the back, carving the subject first in two dimensions before working all the way around it. A series of measuring points are visible on the legs of this figure. These seem to have acted as reference points during the carving process but exactly how they were employed is unknown. Groups of three measuring points are quite common and they are often located on the thighs of the figure's being carved, suggesting that working out the exact proportions of this area was crucial to getting the rest of the figure correct.

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