Gilt Bronzes from Cartoceto di Pergola, Roman bronze statues in Pergola, Italy
The Gilt Bronzes from Cartoceto di Pergola are four ancient bronze figures depicting two military riders and two veiled women alongside ornately crafted horses. These sculptures are covered in gold leaf and housed in the Museum of Gilded Bronzes, where visitors can observe the fine details of casting and decoration.
The bronzes were discovered in 1946 by agricultural workers near Pergola after lying buried for centuries. The finds underwent extensive restoration work to preserve the gold coating and structural integrity of the sculptures.
The figures display clothing and adornments from Roman times, visible in the details of armor and draped fabrics on the statues. Visitors can observe how these pieces reflect what people wore and valued in their daily and ceremonial lives.
The sculptures are maintained in a controlled environment to protect their delicate surfaces and gold coating. Visitors should enter exhibition spaces calmly and view the objects from an appropriate distance.
The bronzes are a rare surviving example of Roman sculpture with original gold coating, a technique seldom seen on ancient bronze works. This gilding demonstrates how precious and important such statues were to their original owners.
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