The highlights of this book are the 85 color plates of Prudhons academic figure drawings; or "acadamies" as they are known. These drawings dignified and stunningly beautiful. Unfortunately; Prudhons drawing techniques have been lost and there is no definitive work describing how they were produced. Many of these drawings have unfinished sections and you can see not only the basic structure; but the construction process as well. This context of Academy training in drawing is particularly important in the case of Prudrsquo;hon. Delacroix noted how; even late in life; Prudrsquo;hon ldquo;habitually spent all his evenings in the studio of his student; M. Trezel; drawing after live models ... as if himself were the student.rdquo; Prudrsquo;hon was not so unusual in making acadeacute;mies throughout his entire career; he was extremely unusual in making more and more acadeacute;mies as his career advanced; especially as a substitute for finished paintings.
#2383594 in eBooks 2016-02-21 2016-02-21File Name: B01C2DQZJW
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent source for researchBy K. OlsenNot for the casual reader; this is more suited for someone wanting serious research. The author explores the myth and history of the Gorgon from every conceivable angle and cites his works wonderfully. Just wish it were more entertaining.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Compelling detective work on a Greek myth; but not as successful at solving it as author thinksBy Nickolas PappasWilk takes us through the many appearances of the Gorgon with the patience and wide-ranging intelligence of a good detective. Some people may be put off by the number and duration of the tangents he pursues; from astronomical observations about variable stars to the technology of gutters and downspouts around the world. I was not. From that point of view I was impressed at how much information he presented with high accuracy in accessible language.But the big solution keeps getting hinted at all the way through the book -- Just wait! I have another explanation! -- and its a bit of a letdown. Wilks solution is that the Gorgon face simulates the face of a decomposed corpse. Problem? From the beginning of the book he gives us Gorgons as women; as sisters; Medusa the woman. He even quotes someone who quotes a schoolboy saying the Gorgons look like women but more horrible. Yet this purported terrific solution doesnt so much as comment on the fact that the Gorgons were women. If the essential thing about them is that they look like corpses; there should be male Gorgons in mythology too; and there arent. I dont say Wilk has to solve every mystery about these monsters; but he does at least have to acknowledge that this major string is left dangling.When structuralist readings come up along the way Wilk is pretty dismissive. This was an inherent weakness in his presentation; and the incompleteness of his own solution makes it worse.9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. FINALLY; REALISTIC EXPLANATIONS FOR THE GORGONSBy Brad SchaeferI had great fun reading this book. Wilk explains many of the features of the Greek myths associated with the Gorgons and shows why they appear worldwide. I appreciate his very broad coverage of all aspects of the myth. Even more; I appreciate his simple and practical answers which ring true. Wilk does not present his explanations as having been "proven"; but this is refreshing and realistic since there will now never be sufficient data from the ancient past to prove anything. Certainly; his answers are better supported than all of the previous claims; some of which used to make me chuckle even though I knew of nothing to replace them. Wilk avoids the seductive trap of trying to explain all the details with some grand "Theory of Everything"; instead pulling his persuasive and original ideas from astronomy; ornithology; architecture; and forensic medicine. His work provides a detailed case study of how myths evolve and are reinvented to suit new purposes. I strongly recommend this new book to anyone interested in the topic of myths.
