The head is roughed-in and it is looking great! The research continues, however, and there are minor tweaks to be done before committing it to the oven.
As a sidebar note, I would like to point out that the head is being sculpted for the most part in SSF. This affords me the greatest amount of control and nuance in expression and volume. Having said that, final detailing, etc. (e.g., eyes) will be done in MS or Aves after the base head is baked.
FOLLOW-UP 11.02.2013. . . The head is just about done. I probably won't bake it until the weekend or early next week to give it time to "settle", and to be able to do a final appraisal with a "fresh" set of eyes. Having said that, I think it is a superb interpretation of Richard III; but, the eyes will ultimately have it. . . or not.
In the meantime, I will re-immerse myself into the armour of the l. 15th c., and not only attempt to arrive at a suitable "Italo-German" harness for Richard, but try to get my head around the issue of the circlet/crown on the sallet. . .
More to follow. . .
Augie,
ReplyDeleteIt all sounds just wonderful! I too am try to envision the crowned sallet. I.m sure your vision of it will be quite impressive!!
Wow!! What a project!1 I am already thouroghly enjoying it. Keep the updates coming..................... :-))
Hello, my friend!
DeleteMany thanks for your enthusiastic response, as always! The head came out much better than I could have hoped. . . unfortunately the head/portrait alone will not carry this bust!
Richard's scoliosis--or rather the allusion to it--is what will make or break this piece. While I am no advocate of his detractors and the physical--and character-- defamation they foisted upon him, I despise revisionist history of any sort, as truth is replaced by thinly-veiled agenda. So, yes, Richard in all probability DID have a hunched back, a result of the "fanning" of the ribs on the affected side. Given the thoracic nature of the scoliosis, it probably would have displaced the scapula somewhat, not only exacerbating the apparent kyphosis, but making his right shoulder higher than the left. The only trait attributed to him by his detractors that is not apparent from the remains is that of a withered arm.
The question is, then, how afflicted (read: "deformed") was he? And that is a critical question! All evidence suggests that it was not readily/obviously apparent, and it did not appear to impair his level of activity. So would it have been evident when he was fully harnessed AND wearing a tabard? That is critical question #2, and the crux of the project!
As to the crown. . . that's a toughy. If I went with a fixed-visor/visorless sallet, it's not an issue. But if I were to go with a visored sallet, it becomes a nightmare! Most of the modern artistic representations (e.g., Graham Turner) have the crown perched way high on the sallet! Aesthetically, it just doesn't work; but it is admittedly the only way the sallet itself would work.
Just another day in the life of a historical miniaturist. . . :-D
See ya soon, cher! HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!