Page 189 - Copper and Bronze in Art: Corrosion, Colorants, Getty Museum Conservation, By David Scott

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P L A T E 4 Photomicrograph of sample from a modern relief protome (portrait
head) on a fourth-century B . C . E . Greek box mirror (see F I G U R E 1.2), showing
micro structure typical for electrodeposited copper. The copper displays a columnar
morphology in which the columnar grains have markings perpendicular to their
length; some of these grains show smaller crystalline regions or have subgrain fea­
tures. Etched in alcoholic ferric chloride (magnification x689) .

P L A T E 5 Auguste Rodin (French, 1840-1917), The Thinker, I888 . Bronze.
H : 71.5 cm; w: 0 cm; D : 58 cm. Streaked surfaces, such as this one on Rodin's
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famous sculpture, are typical for bronzes that have begun to corrode in the outdoor
environment, disrupting their original patina. Conservation intervention is
required to stabilize the surface, and maintenance is needed to ensure long-term
protection. Musée Rodin, Paris.

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