Dressed for Battle: Investigations of an Etruscan Architectural Gigantomachy

The Art Institute of Chicago holds in its collections a rare Etruscan terracotta relief (1984.2) from the 3rd–2nd cent. B.C. depicting a male and female figure battling a struggling anguiped giant. Historically described as an antefix, it retains considerable original polychromy. The terracotta has been the subject of scientific and art‑historical investigation regarding its function and paint layers. Painting materials identified include calcium carbonate, a carbon‑based black, Egyptian blue, antlerite, madder lake, and hematite. While the exact function of the terracotta could not be unequivocally determined, the presence of madder lake and a plant gum as the possible binding medium appears to exclude its use in an exposed, outdoor context. Scientific investigations also revealed previously unseen details about the female figure’s garment, which has previously been subject to speculation. The construction of the dress was also examined and its appearance is discussed, based on analytical evidence.