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Museum of Classical Archaeology Databases

Piombino Kouros

When found it was assumed on stylistic grounds that this was an Archaic work from the 6th century BCE. However it has since been discovered that the bronze alloy from which it is made contains a large proportion of lead, only used in Hellenistic times. Furthermore, inside the hollow sculpture was found the name of a family of known sculptors of around 150 to 50 BCE. We can conclude that this is a Hellenistic work consciously recreating the style and iconography of early classical work, for which there was a market among wealthy art collectors at that time

Number: 
75
Material: 
Bronze
Location of Original: 

Paris, Louvre Bronzes 2

Size: 
1.15m
Accession: 

Purchased from the Louvre in 1922

References: 

Lippold: Griechische Plastik, 92 (n.17)
Richter: Kouroi, no.148
Buschor, E: Frühgriechische Jünglinge, pls. 179-180
Stewart: Greek Sculpture, 230

Date: 
150-50 BCE
Provenance: 

Said to have been found in the sea near Piombino (Populonia) in Etruria in 1832

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