The Eyes

[kev7d]

A classical statue from the Vatican.

[Phil]

The eyes really do stand out. Very eerie! 

[kev7d]

Indeed they do stand out!   

[JHFoto]

Did you use a little photoshop magic here ?

[kev7d]

Nothing that changes the basics of the image.  A bit of a levels lift and a little sharpening was called for. 

[Rogerw]

Impressive Kev, nicely done

[kev7d]

16 minutes ago, Rogerw said:

Impressive Kev, nicely done

Thanks mate.  Much appreciated.  

[ChrisLumix]

A genuine classical statue would have been in full colour. Just having the eyes is a bit weird.

[kev7d]

I have no idea Chris. Unless the paint has been eroded over the years.   

[ChrisLumix]

1 hour ago, kev7d said:

I have no idea Chris. Unless the paint has been eroded over the years.   

I suspect the eyes have been painted at a later (modern?) date.

[kev7d]

I don't know Chris. 

[fuzzyedges]

Nice shot Kev
I remembered something about painted eyes of statues from my misspent youth of playing snooker and eating pork scratchings and they are original to the statue 

With a little help from my old mucker G Ogle 

https://twoyeartrip.com/blog/2015/03/highlights-of-the-vatican-museums-and-the-sistine-chapel/

travel down to the head of Pallas Athena 
The image is a very pale version of yours Kev 

Pallas Athena was the goddess of wisdom, who helped those fighting in a just war. For Greeks and Romans (who called her Minerva) was providing courage and strength. The most famous temple of the ancient world, the Parthenon, on the Acropolis was dedicated to her, in the city that bear her name, Athens. In the statue at the Vatican she is depicted as usual, with her warrior helmet. It is one of the rare statues on which some paint is still preserved, coloring the eyes, as many antique statues used to be painted or adorned with precious stones. The virgin Athena gained the patronage of Athens by offering the locals the first olive tree. As Athena is associated with democracy and republic, as rational forms of organizing society, a large statue of her is also found in front of the 

[kev7d]

I was beginning to think the statue was made in China in 1982.  

Thanks Fuzzy.