Forthcoming

Guidelines for the Technical Examination of Bronze Sculpture

Edited by David Bourgarit, Jane Bassett, Francesca G. Bewer, Arlen Heginbotham, Andrew Lacey, and Peta Motture

Coming 2023 (Online, E-book, PDF, Paperback)

Since the fourth millennium BCE, bronze has been the preferred medium for some of the most prestigious and sacred works of art. But only through interdisciplinary research can the fabrication of these extraordinary objects be properly investigated, interpreted, and documented. This innovative publication bridges the expertise of myriad art-technological specialists to create a new framework for advancing the understanding of bronze sculpture.

Essential reading for curators, conservators, scientists, archaeologists, sculptors, metallurgists, founders, dealers, collectors, and anyone interested in the life cycle of a bronze, this volume explains how to identify the evidence of process steps, metals used, casting defects, and surface work and alterations before moving on to address analytical techniques ranging from visual exams to imaging, material analyses, and dating. The guidelines are accompanied by detailed illustrations, including videos, charts, and animations; a robust vocabulary ensuring precision across English, German, French, Italian, and Chinese; a diverse selection of case studies; and a comprehensive bibliography.

The free online edition of this open-access publication will be available here, at getty.edu/publications/bronze-guidelines/, and will include videos and zoomable illustrations. Also available will be free PDF and EPUB downloads of the book. A paperback edition will also be available for purchase.

Contents

Published with Quire™ by Getty Publications