I completely understand why copies of the Florence baptistry doors, Rome Capitoline Marcus Aurelius statue, Siena duomo rose window, Florence David statue, etc., have been substituted for the original works. We can always see the originals in museums. But, does anyone know if the reproductions are exact copies, by way of some sort of molding process? Or, are they extremely close copies, produced by human artists?
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
I've always understood that they're generally from molds. Except for paintings, of course. :-)
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
That is an interesting question. I never thought about it. Does it make a difference to you? I would assume that the if it was extremely close is could not be detectable by the untrained eye. The museum David (original) is a completely different viewing experience than the copy David in the plaza. In someways almost two different statues although identical. Part of art is the experience.
Posted by
OP
Corsicana, Texas, USA
354 posts
Thanks for the replies. I asked the question because in Florence, there were massive crowds around the baptistery bronze door replicas, but hardly anyone viewing the originals in the duomo museum. On the other hand, people were standing in line hours to see the original David statue, but no one seemed to give the Piazza Signoria copy any notice. I know that art is a personal experience, and everyone reacts to an artistic work in their own way. But assuming that all copies are very, very close, if not exact, I wasn’t sure why some replicas were more popular than others.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Lamont, for me, I can explain that. A statue is a statue -- it is complete, it is whole, it is there. Doors are part of a building. Not designed to stand alone but a part of the overall design of a building -- the windows, the roof, the stone -- it is all part of a package. Without the arch way, the roof, it is just doors. Doors are not designed art forms in itself. I would want to see the doors on the building for which they were designed. Back to the statue -- how it is displayed, presented is equally critical and the museum sitting for David is pretty powerful. It doesn't have the same impact in the plaza. So I see why, myself include, would prefer to see the fake doors on the building and not in the museum and why David inside is better than David outside.