AFTER THE ANTIQUE, AN ITALIAN SCAGLIOLA HEAD OF THE GODDESS ARIADNE 19TH CENTURY 42cm high Provenance: The Simon Neal Collection This head of Ariadne is composed largely of gypsum, the mineral calcium sulphate dihydrate, a form of which is alabaster. When heated it forms the powder form of gesso, which when mixed with water, sets hard. The technique employed in the manufacture of this head could therefore be described as 'scagliola', from the Italian 'scaglia' (meaning 'chips'): a 17th century artistic technique where gypsum is mixed with selenite, glue, and natural pigments to emulate coloured marble, in this case 'Serpentine' or Green Porphyry. In ancient mythology, Ariadne was the wife of Dionysus and daughter of King Minos of Crete. In Western art, Ariadne is often depicted alongside Dionysus, either feasting with the gods of Olympus, or in Bacchic scenes surrounded by dancing Satyrs and Maenads.