Saturday, November 15, 2008

Chapter 6

The Bronze sculptures always fascinate me. The detail and reality portrayed in the The Head of a Man (Knows as Brutus) looks almost like an actual mask. I always study the hair because of how intricately they shape it. The symmetry is well done. And no only are the anatomical features correct, but the emotion and presence of this man are clearly obvious. If the head is not of a real man, the ideal characteristics and personality of the god (?) or hero (?) created in this sculpture are still classic.
The above bronze head is a sharp contrast to this stone sculputre of Pompey the Great. The Bronze Head is bold and strong, casting out all fear and faults. Pompey is shows with soft, fleshy skin. His warts are even left clearly visible on his face to emphasize the realism demanded by the Roman people. He seems more approachable and human compared to the regal, immortality of the bronze head.