Why cleaning pays off

The National Archaeological Museum of Florence housed a marble statue that was labeled as representing Queen Leda of Sparta as a Roman copy from the 1^st century AD of the original Greek created around 300 BC.

[Before and after cleaning/restoration. Credit: Friends of Florence]

However, the statue was pretty dirty and it was decided to clean it and carry out the necessary restorations. Well, the authorities were in for a surprise since the statue turned out to be Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love sculpted in splendid white marble from Paros.

The restoration revealed that the head, although antique, does not belong to the body of the statue and is made from a different material. At some point, probably in the 18^th century, the arms were added as was customary at that time to embellish broken antique statues. Also previous restorations and repairs were removed and replaced with the same types of materials used in antiquity. Another close study found original traces of paint on her robe and red ocher and gilding in her hair.

An old photograph dating from the late 1800s shows that the statue stood in the garden loggia of the Museum and that is where it probably accumulated most of the dirt.

From atop her beautifully carved 19^th century wooden base, it now shines again upon the visitors to this lovely museum. See also: A splendid Collection of Greek Bronze Masterpieces and Greek art at its best in two separate exhibitions).