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Well, there are advantages and disadvantages to both original 'as found' pieces, and 'restored', whole works.
Speaking for myself, I think ideally one should display the original 'as is', with perhaps a 'restored' replica alongside. Failing that, any 'restoration' work should be visibly different from the original.......otherwise, quite misleading ideas can become promulgated. Two that spring to mind are the so-called 'Leonidas' bust ( helmet restored, crest completely unoriginal) and the Louvre 'Praetorians' - much of which is unoriginal, especially the heads......
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
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Well first of all the add-ons are REVERSIBLE and second they will be REMOVED once the statues will return to the public musuem. The statues are now temporarily in a government building.
By the way the wall of the gladiator domus that collapsed was an add-on made in the 1950s.
Jeffery Wyss
"Si vos es non secui of solutio tunc vos es secui of preciptate."
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They were added because Berlusconi asked if it was possibile and the answer was affirmative. Matter of personal tastes. I repeat that the statues are not in a museum but decorate a government palace. Once they return to the museum the add-ons will be removed.
Jeffery Wyss
"Si vos es non secui of solutio tunc vos es secui of preciptate."
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Quote:any 'restoration' work should be visibly different from the original.
We frequently see that done on pottery restorations.
Robert, what's an English translation of the political cartoon?
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
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I was curious about everyone's personal tastes. Do you like them repaired or as they were found?
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Historically, I think they should be shown as they now exist. But artistically, I often wonder about the missing parts: arm positions, heads, feet and facial expressions can add a great deal to the meaning of a sculpture.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
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Not hard to figure. I suggest this as a list of the possible cost distribution:
The freight company who made the shipping containers and delivered the sculpture 2000
The artist who made the "replacement parts" 8000
The committee who decided who to select for the above, and what should be done 25000
The government bureaucrats who supervised and meddled in the project 40000
Pot's right, deal the cards. :wink:
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.