topic Re: What a colourful world it must have been then in General Discussion

What a colourful world it must have been then

Tronhard — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:06:00 GMT

When we look at most artworks that have survived from ancient Greece, Rome or Egypt (to name a few) we are faced with just the surface decorations that have not succumbed to the ravages of time. However, there has always been evidence that statues and hieroglyphics were brightly coloured.

Now, a museum has made an attempt to show us one small scrap of what we are missing. I wish someone could create a replica wall that is fully coloured, and do the same for replicas of some of the better-known statues of the classical period.

See the article:
This is What Hieroglyphs and Figures in Ancient Egyptian Temples Looked Like Before Their Colors Faded - Hasan Jasim

Re: What a colourful world it must have been then

stevet1 — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 16:39:04 GMT

Trevor,

And it must have been doubly awe-inspiring for anyone coming in off the miles and miles vast expanse of the brown Sahara.

Steve

Re: What a colourful world it must have been then

Tintype_18 — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 18:17:09 GMT

I have been watching Josh Gates who has several episodes in Egypt. It is amazing that colors are still vivid even after three millennia. He has visited several pyramids and grave sites with archeologists.

Re: What a colourful world it must have been then

Tronhard — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:19:43 GMT

In the original post, the colours appear quite glaring because they are intensely projected onto the surface of the original wall - which is understandable as they don't want to change it.

However, some paintings found in undisturbed burial chambers show how colourful their imagery was. I would love to see a replica of a wall of hieroglyphics that was painted as it would have been. The same goes for Roman and Greek statues.

This is the closest I have come across face to face so far: this full-size replica of a series of painted walls in the interior of the tomb of Sennedjem, found a cemetery in a workman's village in Deir el-Medina, and identifies him as a senior workman who was engaged in cutting and decorating tombs in Egypt's New Kingdom. This photo was taken in an exhibition that visited the Auckland Museum from the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities a year or so ago. It's painted, and according to the catalogue, it's 100% accurate as this was located deep underground and sealed, so not subject to environmental damage or pillaging - to me, it doesn't look at all dull.

30mm, f/8, 1/8sec, ISO-3200 24mm, f/8, 1/6sec, ISO-3200
And an interesting video on the subject of colour and ancient art:

Re: What a colourful world it must have been then

Tronhard — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:19:10 GMT

I can only agree Steve. These are amazing works of art and I think they deserve to be considered with the full strength of their presentation media, for both texture, symbolic creativity and colour.

Re: What a colourful world it must have been then

Ron888 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 07:44:33 GMT

Very cool. I learned in the past how colorful these were but somehow forgot.Thanks for the reminder.

Re: What a colourful world it must have been then

Tronhard — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 16:16:33 GMT

I was rather in the same boat myself! 🙂