Each race has a different view of the art of sculpture.
Elvish sculture tends to appear abstract to othe races -- it is intended
to
capture the "essence" of a feeling or experience and evoke that general
image. Rarely is it used for specific representational purposes.
Rodin's
more lyrical works are "a bit literal minded, aren't they?".
Dwarvish sculpture is diametrically opposite elvish scultpure. Excruciating
realism is the standard by which it is judged. They are more than
willing
to mass produce works for others as copies in stone or bronze of "garbage"
if that is what a customer desires. Roman portrait busts would be considered
"a good try".
Orcs just like their sculpture BIG. Think Egyptian megalithic.
It should be noted that Cthonians consider standing a stone on a platform
to
be the epitome of sculpture since the rock was created perfectly in the
first place. Seriously orthodox Cthonians would argue that it was also
created in it's proper place and that moving it is unneccesary and
distracting.
So, our list is biased towards humans.
10. Vorhannes Klibur, Seria, 942-998
Unusually, his primary choice of material was wood, and his painted temple
statues were ordered and installed throughout the midwest. Small,
non-religious subjects are serious collector pieces.
9. Kiganos the Elder, Empire of the Ten, d. -80
Little is known of the life of Kiganos the Elder, but his multi-group life
sized bronzes are the prize possesions of several Dukes and Princes
throughout the Northern Sea trading area.
8. Kiganos the Younger, Buchar, d. 23
The grandson of the elder Kiganos moved as a young boy with his father
to
the far south of the midwest region after the fall of the Empire of the
Ten.
His command of equestrain subjects meant that he was in great demand for
commemorative bronzes. Few works of his survive.
7. Phylixos, Buchar, 45-102
Carrying on the great artistic tradition of bucharese arts in the early
years of the age, Phylixos was a prolific painter, playwright, and sculptor.
His favorite subjects were dancers, but his fine series of temple friezes
three of which survive in Arden ) were considered his crowning achievement.
6. Donattius Domilus, Rigel, 546-631
By the mid-500s, the Rigellan artistic explosion was in full swing, and
Donattius, painter, sculptor, and architect, was the first bright star.
Several of his fine public buildings remain in Soren, including the current
Grand Hall at the Imperial War College. The decorations are still
original.
He particularly favored black and other dark stones, lending an interesting
twist to his work. During his long life he was very prolific and most courts
will have one or two examples of his work.
5. Korghad the Builder, Great Forest, 881-920
Korghad was, it is true, an Orc. And yet, the monumental works he produced
for the brief lived Orcish Regime in Whin is remarkable, not just for it's
size but for the emotion and energy displayed. Two of his 50 foot
high
figures -- Striding Orclord, now in Seria, and Gurz Adan, now in Rigel
--
escaped destruction and testify to his sublime skill.
4. Lisel, Arden, 751-802
Lisel marks a shift in the artistic world. The torch of art burned brightly
in the five and six hundreds in Rigel, but by the mid-700s had shifted
away,
never to return. Her work is characterized by long, graceful curves,
and
gently flowing folds of cloth. Her work is widely admired in the
present
day and dwarvish copies of some pieces are readily available.
3. Markos the Enician, Thorin, 772-858
A late contemporary of Lisel, Markos was influenced by her style but
exaggerated the length and line of his work, creating an immediately
recognizable, stylized look in everything from dogs to women. Markos
studied briefly in Lisel's workshop in 798 and 800; rumor has it that they
were lovers.
2. Claud Debue, Arden, 900-978
Claud is known for oversize studies of small objects (hands, shoulders,
torsos) as well as bronze, clay and stone works. His very popular series
of
caricatures of the gods is available in miniature dwarvish copies. He is
less well known as a painter.
1. Bonrotti, 602-701
Bonrotti is the last blaze of glory of the Rigellan tradition. Like
Donattius, he was a painter, a sculptor, and an architect. Even dwarves
admire the craftsmanship of his work, and make pilgrimages to see his
buildings, most famously, the Temple of the Empire in Soren. His most famous
statue, Mankind in the New World, is widely regarded as the best statue
ever
carved from a block of stone. Ardenese detractors will point out that
Bonrotti was also a famous drunk, a notorius womanizer, and had an incestous
relationship with his half sister.