First of all, let me just acknowledge that it literally took me seconds on Google to find a relevant story to support this post topic, which I guess is a possibility for the future all in itself, but my topic is about how possibilities for the future of science and technology can help us better understand our past, which in turn can also help us better prepare for our future … so that we can like really, really understand the past. Also, I tied art in there and the pivotal creation of western civilization because I’m that freaking good.
The article I used to explain one possibility for the future of science completely obliterates the commonly held theory that ancient Greek and Roman sculpture was left bare and unvarnished. Using ultraviolet light, Vinzenz Brinkmann along with his fellow researchers, found “microscopic grains of pigment” and “faded tints” left over from ancient organic based paints. Originally using the light to try and see the mark of the sculptor’s tools, the scientists have uncovered information that essentially changes the artwork much of modern sculpture and architecture is based on.
Basically, all those classy looking stone statues of gods and busts of dudes with George Clooney’s hair, actually looked much more like the ‘art’ your weird uncle did in college before he dropped out and went to trade school. I know what you’re thinking, not such a big deal…
…did you look at that lion? That means that all those naked wrestlers depicted in Greek sculpture where all yellow and pink and stuff.
Seriously? Buzz off. It says faded pigment!!! It might have been very light and elegant! And how do you explain the very classy COLORED paintings the romans made!
ReplyDeleteJudging by the masterful sculpting of the period, the painting on the statues of the time must have rivalled or surpassed Renaissance painting. Cooler than we can imagine and like nothing we've seen, which is why our reproductions are garish crap. So don't say the ancient Greeks and Romans were "uncool" or whatever.
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