Digital reconstruction of The Arch of Titus’s Menorah Panel in Rome

[Imperial Dave]

http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/cultural-heritage/true-colors-the-arch-of-titus/

found this to be an interesting piece on reconstruction albeit digital.....colours everywhere 

(and not via the mail online either)

[Patrick Waterson]

Trajan's Column also was almost certainly painted in lifelike colours, or at least what passed for such at a distance.

We often fail to appreciate that statuary was coloured to represent life, and stonework panels were similarly treated.  Life was, after all, what they were supposed to represent.

I think the original colours on Titus' panel would have been stronger than those shown: the 'washy' and 'pastel' look is probably the result of making no compensation for the effect of centuries of weathering on the surviving pigment.

[Erpingham]

I think the original colours on Titus' panel would have been stronger than those shown: the 'washy' and 'pastel' look is probably the result of making no compensation for the effect of centuries of weathering on the surviving pigment.

While I agree on the colours (the Romans seemed to like strong colours and it would make sense on a monument to be seen at a distance), I'm not sure about the weathering.  These studies of colour often look at the chemical makeup and recreate, rather than copy the surviving hues.

[Imperial Dave]

well, at any rate, the colouring effect does 'bring it to life' a bit more for me. I am so used to grey monotone on monuments that it is a bit of a shock to see otherwise. I cant remember where I saw this but quite a few walls and buildings in general were painted white as well

[Erpingham]

well, at any rate, the colouring effect does 'bring it to life' a bit more for me. I am so used to grey monotone on monuments that it is a bit of a shock to see otherwise. I cant remember where I saw this but quite a few walls and buildings in general were painted white as well

Popular in the Middle Ages too - lots of churches and castles were painted white, which would give them a very different appearance to the ruins of today.  The reconstructed medieval church at St Fagans near Cardiff gives a good impression of the difference.

[Imperial Dave]

well, at any rate, the colouring effect does 'bring it to life' a bit more for me. I am so used to grey monotone on monuments that it is a bit of a shock to see otherwise. I cant remember where I saw this but quite a few walls and buildings in general were painted white as well

Popular in the Middle Ages too - lots of churches and castles were painted white, which would give them a very different appearance to the ruins of today.  The reconstructed medieval church at St Fagans near Cardiff gives a good impression of the difference.

and in point of fact, there is a castle near to me (part of the trilateral castles in Monmouthshire nr Abergavenny) called White Castle because it was noted for being incontrovertibly white!