In contrast to the Muse of Sculpture, my greatest departure from the Bürkner etchings is with the Muse of Architecture.
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I omitted the small angel, in part because I thought it cluttered the composition, and in part because I reckon that a muse really doesn't need anyone to whisper direction into its ear. I also simplified the architectural model from six columns to four columns.
My biggest change was in the figure of the muse itself. I think the Muse of Architecture should be more elegantly dressed than Bürkner's version, and have a softer face. My friend Yvonne, whose Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin inspired this mural, made an astute observation. She looked at the muse's face and asked, "Is this one of your friends, because the face is a more modern depiction of beauty?"
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Well, she was half right, because I based the face on that of Isabella Rossellini, whose beauty I've always admired. Now Ms. Rossellini can add to her list of many accomplishments that she is also the Muse of Architecture.
The muse's attendant bears watching.
I fear that he is a bit of an imp.
The finished Muse of Architecture is below.
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Dear Mark - I have just looked back to see the splendid Muse of Sculpture which I missed. All of the muses are equally lovely, but I think the latest Muse of Architecture has perhaps the edge for me. May be it is that beautiful interpretation of Ms Rossellini that you have used.
ReplyDeleteYou must be delighted with your progress - as I have mentioned before I am in awe.
H also mentioned about the blank areas above the muses, but I told him that I though that you would have plans for those area.
Dear Rosemary,
DeleteI'm glad you liked the Muse of Architecture, especially as I had departed so much from the Bürkner model. Yes, the space between the muses and the garlands will be filled up, as will be the complete center. In fact, the day may come when H says, "When is he going to stop?!"
Dear Mark, The furniture which will be placed in this room will have to be designed. I only see one very elegant bench on which one can admire your room, in fact it has to be a 2 sided bench. That is the only piece of furniture in your Pompeian room and I think that you should design it.
ReplyDeleteYour Muse could be Ingrid or Isabella...they look so much alike.
Your Pompeian masterpiece is truly a masterpiece.
Dear Gina,
DeleteThe Pompeii Room, small though it is, is going to become a functioning dining room, or perhaps more like a breakfast room. I'm planning on a table and four chairs, but the table will usually be aginst a wall. Because the room is small, and because I want to minimize how much of the wall is obscured, I'll be looking for a glass-topped table. I've been on the lookout for such a table and haven't found anything remotely appropriate yet!
P.S. Thank you so much for that last comment. There's much yet to come.
DeleteHello Mark, Once again I am impressed with all of your adaptations for this Muse. In the original, I think she is supposed to appear attentive, but also looks somewhat displeased and sour. Yours is a complete improvement; I also like the wreath in her hair, which is softer and more attractive than that hard-looking crown. The color of the skirt goes better with your design, and I like the additional drapery and the fact that the feet are covered--the original had an odd appearance of too many adjacent bare feet, if that makes any sense.
ReplyDeleteFor the final touch, your plumb bob looks like a functioning one--the original reminds me of an old-fashioned faucet lever!
--Jim
Hi, Jim,
DeleteYour comment today, and preceding ones, tells me that you could very well be a good art director because you have pinpointed all my concerns with the original Bürkner design. I redid the face because the original, while a classic look, does indeed look sour. I liked the idea of the crown and considered turning it into a Corinthian capital (but that was a tad too surrealistic!).
I looked at the apron and figured that it could be leather, so decided to make it a yellow hue. Then it followed to keep the gown green, to complement the trophies — I'm conscious of keeping two or three consistent color schemes within the mural. That's why the drawing board is the same color as the sky.
I really don't know what sort of status an architect would have had in Ancient Rome or Pompeii, but I doubt that they were regarded as mere artisans, which is how Bürkner portrayed his muse. Though I kept the apron, I really wanted my architect to be more elegant.
Hi Mark, somehow we must get word to Isabella! Celebrated actress or not, no woman could be anything but thrilled by an homage like this. I like that you didn't paint the feet. Any reason?
ReplyDeleteHi, Barbara,
ReplyDeleteFeet, no matter how well painted, can look awkward when viewed head-on. If you click on the Bürkner engraving and view it enlarged, you can see that Bürkner himself might have done a better job on the feet. And while I thought I could have done better, I also thought, why draw attention away from the aspects of the vignette that say "architecture?"
I send best wishes to Isabella Rossellini wherever she may be, and that is enough for me.
Mark,
ReplyDeleteVery impressive! I really admire your talents and attention to detail. I agree: the small angel is a bit distracting. Are you almost done? Just the center mural left? Bravo!!
Hi, Loi,
DeleteThanks for your comment. I am far from almost done, but I would estimate that I am about halfway to completion. Down the road will also be some grisaille that I think you'll especially enjoy.
Isabella is a great model for sure -such handsome beauty. It's looking great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stefan! We have to do right by our favorite achitects!
DeleteWow Mark, a lot has happened since I last visited your Pompeii project. I had no idea how detailed you were going to get. Did you? Looks great and won't this really be something when complete? How nice that you are documenting it so thoroughly and thoughtfully.
ReplyDeletePart of the reason I stopped by was to let you know one of my Flickr contacts has posted a number of images taken at Pompeii.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pinousicco/
P.s. I learned from your previous entry "term" is another word for herm which is what I was familiar with.
Hi, Scott,
DeleteMy original thought for a mural was a Renaissance theme with large figures (which would have perhaps made this small room look monumental). But knowing that I would indeed become this detailed, I wondered whether I'd be ovewhelmed part way through.
And then I hit upon the Pompeii theme in part because I liked that I could get very detailed in some areas, and retain relatively blank panels in other areas. The Pompeii theme is perfect for the way I work, not to mention that I am in love with the original murals.
Thanks for that link; I took a quick look, and know that I'll be going back for a more thorough examination.
"Herm" is the more familiar word, but term is more exact for the particular version that I painted — it was all new to me, too. Stefan of Architect Design™ steered me to the proper definition.
Okay, I see where you're going with the backgrounds. Looking good, Mark. I love that you're not afraid of pomp and circumstance. :) What do your friends think of all this? Your family? This is going to wow 'em, that's for sure. It's wowing me sitting here in New Jersey. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Yvette,
DeleteI get a lot of encouragement from my family and friends, and one thing that I'm noticing is that friends are in turn bringing their friends, and that's a nice affirmation. I'm having more fun, though, unveiling the room on the blog — it feels good to get an affirmation all the way from New Jersey!
I meant to ask, Mark, what kind of paint you're using. You've probably mentioned it several times but if so I haven't come across it. I'm thinking acrylics?
DeleteBelieve it or not, this mural represents many quarts of (flat) Sherwin Williams house paints. I mix in a small quantity of acrylics now and then, and in those cases also add a matte polymer varnish to keep the surface flat.
DeleteHokey smoke! Didn't realize. Wow. Will you be glazing the finished walls or leaving them flat. I don't mean glazing as in adding another color, but won't you need to protect the flat paint?
DeleteI like the flat look because in that small room with that huge window, any sheen would be very distracting. I have mixed acrylics with the flat Sherwin Williams in some areas, so the flatness isn't consistent, which bothers me. I've done some research and discovered that there is a perfectly flat varnish on the market, and I might cover the whole wall with that. Of course I'd need to do some experiments first!
DeleteThat sounds like a good idea. You need to protect your work somehow.
DeleteNow I think you need some writing in this mural. Why make up a script when there is a perfectly good extinct one you can use: Etruscan! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Italic_script
ReplyDeleteHi, Lynne,
DeleteI like that Etruscan font, a lot! I think that it's influenced several very handsome modern typefaces (that I've admired and wanted to use for some time). I'll try to dig up copies and email them to you.