I have for some time been interested in the architecture of ancient Egypt, and some well known watercolorists of their time, who have depicted these structures since the late 1800's, namely David Roberts, and Hector Horeau, there are others, such as Edward Lear, who penned the “Owl and the Pussy cat”, and was quite an accomplished artist.
I have tried in my own way to copy these watercolours, but what has become apparent while coping these masters is that their paintings are romantic, and less appealing to the purist than one might imagine at first . The paintings of David Roberts are, albeit wonderfully coloured, probably incorrect, as when they where depicted in the late 1800's the colours would have most certainly been “washed out, or eroded by weather.
Furthermore, it seems that the artist was inspired more by “Roman columns”, than by Egyptian ones.
What is apparent when one studies these paintings is the extraordinary detail which the artist has ascribed, and how long they must must have suffered under that unrelenting sun to render such remarkable works of art.
In my research, it has become apparent that they must have measured these structures very accurately, as freehand drawings would have been almost impossible. It is also interesting to note, that many of their
great paintings where no more than sketches for later works.
Your comments would be much appreciated, in the artists fashion.
Modern day architects are invited to submit their own observations!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Roberts_(painter)
http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/gri/4horeau_intro.html
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/paintings/edward-lear-kom-ombos-egypt-5318411-details.aspx
I will post my own watercolour copies of these artists when I can.
I have tried in my own way to copy these watercolours, but what has become apparent while coping these masters is that their paintings are romantic, and less appealing to the purist than one might imagine at first . The paintings of David Roberts are, albeit wonderfully coloured, probably incorrect, as when they where depicted in the late 1800's the colours would have most certainly been “washed out, or eroded by weather.
Furthermore, it seems that the artist was inspired more by “Roman columns”, than by Egyptian ones.
What is apparent when one studies these paintings is the extraordinary detail which the artist has ascribed, and how long they must must have suffered under that unrelenting sun to render such remarkable works of art.
In my research, it has become apparent that they must have measured these structures very accurately, as freehand drawings would have been almost impossible. It is also interesting to note, that many of their
great paintings where no more than sketches for later works.
Your comments would be much appreciated, in the artists fashion.
Modern day architects are invited to submit their own observations!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Roberts_(painter)
http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/gri/4horeau_intro.html
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/paintings/edward-lear-kom-ombos-egypt-5318411-details.aspx
I will post my own watercolour copies of these artists when I can.
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