RALEIGH, NC.- The Statue of Bacchus, which has undergone extensive research since the 1960s when the North Carolina Museum of Art realized it was a patchwork of marble fragments, returns on view in special exhibition Bacchus Conservation Project: The Story of a Sculpture. Open March 7–September 27, 2020, the exhibition explores the history of the sculpture, the scientific investigation, the conservation process, and the making of its new arm. The exhibition also includes a series of related events, including a free Family Day, a scholarly panel, and a wine-tasting event.

The Bacchus Conservation Project, underway since 2013, is a multidisciplinary and multiphase endeavor, featuring scholars, scientists, engineers, artists, and even former North Carolina State University basketball player Wyatt Walker.

“The Bacchus Conservation Project is a perfect example of the ways in which history, science, technology, art, and even sports can connect,” said Valerie Hillings, Museum director. “The Museum has been working on this collection project since the 1960s. Thanks to today’s technology and the passionate commitment of our staff, we’ve been able to illuminate this art historical mystery. We’re thrilled to complete the Bacchus Conservation Project and celebrate with an exhibition and related events.”

Academic interest in the statue began in the 1960s when classical scholars realized the sculpture was a patchwork comprising a rare 2nd-century Roman torso, a head from a different ancient sculpture, and limbs, hair locks, berries, and leaves that were added later. The removal of the head 30 years ago initiated a derestoration process, but the treatment was not initially intended to extend to the rest of the sculpture.

Recent research, structural analysis, and materials analysis, however, led the Bacchus project team to reconsider the original plan. The team’s scientific, conservation, and curatorial data showed that Bacchus contains more fragments from ancient quarries than previously thought and that displaying each fragment separately did not make curatorial sense. Together, though, these ancient fragments create a wonderful statue of the Roman god of wine.

“Reusing the fragments for a re-creation posed a serious structural integrity risk, but putting the statue together again was feasible,” said Caroline Rocheleau, NCMA curator of ancient art. "So instead, we opted for a rerestoration of Bacchus. The culmination of this decades-long endeavor is incredibly exciting, and we can’t wait to share it with our visitors.”

In addition to creating a new arm for the statue, the new conservation treatment has returned the statue to its 1960s appearance, reattaching the head to the body.

The exhibition also features a marble touch station where visitors can learn about the different types of marble in the statue; a “build your own god” interactive station to customize a new Roman god; and the Story of Bacchus digital interactive, where visitors can explore the statue’s history and the far-flung origins of its marble pieces.

An additional way to explore the statue is through a 360-degree video. Created as a form of digital outreach for high school students, the immersive experience includes an exploration of the Bacchus research and the NCMA’s conservation lab. Published on the Museum educational resource website, NCMALearn, the 360-degree video is available to the public and to schools without the need to schedule a program held at a specific time.

Two publications are planned as part of the project: a coloring book featuring Bacchus and other deities, available March 15, and a scholarly publication available in August, presenting the research conducted over the last few years. Both publications will be for sale in the Museum Store.