Classic.
In the ancient world, statues of gods, emperors, and warriors weren’t as austere as the white marble from which they were made. That’s simply the modern projection of those who came before us.
Alexander Sarcophagus 320 BC
Scholars have known for some time that the Greeks and Romans painted their stone sculptures, but it was only a few years ago that the German archaeologist Vinzenz Brinkmann started to bring about a real paradigm shift with irrefutable science and a good deal of painting.
Brinkmann’s color take on the Alexander Sarcophagus
Using bright lights, ultraviolet lamps, cameras, and jars of powdered minerals, Brinkmann is restoring the full color of the ancient world, one plaster cast at a time.
Caligula AD 39-41, the original and Brinkmann’s version
Maybe it’s a little childish of me, but there’s something about this that I find deeply satisfying. I’ve never liked art of the neo-Classical style, but I’ve never had a proper reason for my distaste…until now! It’s comforting to think of the Acropolis in living color, to know that some ancient peoples were just a little bit more like us.
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CATEGORIES: - Featuring artists - Philosophy -
(3) Comments / Commentaires: Classic.
I actually think the colors look awfully simplistic. The sculptures are incredibly realistic and subtle. Why wouldn’t the painting of them be as well?
You’re probably right, John, but I’m just excited that there was color at all!
karina...
Wow those are beautiful! I remember at WU during my senior thesis when I found out that all of the stone carvings on cathedrals were also painted! what a shock! in Lyon they have a festival of lights every year and this year they lite up a cathedral as it might have looked like painted
http://www.lyon69.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/lumieres-2-206.jpg
http://www.lyoncapitale.fr/photo/Fete_des_Lumieres_Visitedesroissaintjean.jpg
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