Fragment of a Grave Monument
4th-3rd century BCE
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
63.5 × 30 × 14.5 cm (25 × 11 7/8 × 5 3/4 in.)
Classification
architectural fragment
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
16620
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
When this object came to the Art Institute, it was cracked in two. Experts even questioned whether the fragments belonged together, as they were misaligned and of different colors. Upon examination, it was found that the two parts were joined by lead dowels that had caused the skewed alignment, and that they were, in fact, a perfect match. The discoloration was caused by weathering that had occurred while the object lay buried in different areas of iron-rich soil. After removing the lead dowels,...
About the Artist
Ancient Greek
The artist known simply as "Ancient Greek" represents the anonymous masters of Attic vase painting, a cornerstone of Classical Greek art from the Archaic and Classical periods (circa 700–300 BCE). Little is known of their personal life, as ancient Greek potters and painters rarely signed their works or left biographical traces; early life and training remain not well documented. These creators ope...