This research project began with a visit to the Vatican Museum in 2004, when the repairs to the sculptures (especially facial repairs) in the collection sparked an interest in the Italian sculptural conservation. The beautifully inlaid "repairs" were purposefully visible as is the current norm for "reconstuctions" so that later historians can clearly discern the repaired/restored areas (and so they are not seen to be "faking" a more perfectly preserved relic). This investigation also leads to the hazy roots of the history of " Defacing" idols and statues, with a focus on figures.( more on this later)
In this process the curiosity about just how acurate these replacements are inevitably comes up. With figures that were not on coins or so famous as to have been sculpted more than a few times ( and well labeled ) the use of "artistic license" may be unavoidable.....
(below are great examples of the quality level and the context of the sculptural portraits available in Rome)
For more images go to the photo site: http://homepage.mac.com/james.hull/PhotoAlbum1.html