South-arabian Yemeni bronze statue, about 2500 years old.
This lifesize statue, first robbed from an unexcavated site in the desert of Yemen, finally ended in the store room of the National Museum in Sanaa, after years of mistreatment where it lost its hands and feet. A cooperation agreement with the Louvre Museum allowed its coming to Paris for restoration and study, before being sent back to its motherland Yemen for exhibition.
The inscription engraved on the stomach in sabean language (a south-arabian pre-arabic culture associated with the still fabulous Queen of Sheba), names Hawtar‘athat, son of Radaw’îl, a member of the elite families of the old city of Naqshum, one of the small kingdoms sharing the power over the land of Yemen in the 1rst mill BC.
It appears to have been painted at some stage, and there appears to be some pattern on the stomach. The history that it could tell would be great. Well presented. Thanks.
Thanks to you FailingMemory. It is not painted, the surface is covered with a mixture of sand and metal corrosion. I took the photo during the process of restoration of the statue in the lab of the Louvre museum. And you are right, there is a text written on the stomac, the reason why I was there : make a drawing of the inscription to allow its deciphering by epigraphists. Therefore I had the privilege of a studio session with this gorgeous piece of art.
Beautiful light that captures the details and texture of the statue. Spot on color and exposure and a very informative description. Thanks for sharing with the Art of the Middle East group.
this reminds me of a program that was on UK TV recently about this photographer who takes low light long exposure shots of standing stones and statues to see if there is any writing or paint on them. This must have been a magical moment to have this as your model
It has been… Thanks Richard (Somehow photography is always a way of deciphering the world, thank you for your attention ladies&gentlemen, see you at our next philosophical session…)
Comments
It appears to have been painted at some stage, and there appears to be some pattern on the stomach. The history that it could tell would be great. Well presented. Thanks.
Thanks to you FailingMemory. It is not painted, the surface is covered with a mixture of sand and metal corrosion. I took the photo during the process of restoration of the statue in the lab of the Louvre museum. And you are right, there is a text written on the stomac, the reason why I was there : make a drawing of the inscription to allow its deciphering by epigraphists. Therefore I had the privilege of a studio session with this gorgeous piece of art.
– Hélène David-Cuny
Interesting info Helene and very well captured. Great light and shadow.
Thank you as ever Olitto !
– Hélène David-Cuny
Beautiful light that captures the details and texture of the statue. Spot on color and exposure and a very informative description. Thanks for sharing with the Art of the Middle East group.
Thanks again Eyal !
– Hélène David-Cuny
this reminds me of a program that was on UK TV recently about this photographer who takes low light long exposure shots of standing stones and statues to see if there is any writing or paint on them. This must have been a magical moment to have this as your model
It has been… Thanks Richard (Somehow photography is always a way of deciphering the world, thank you for your attention ladies&gentlemen, see you at our next philosophical session…)
– Hélène David-Cuny
Superb lighting, photographed beautifully.
Thank you Lorraine !
– Hélène David-Cuny
The texture is just amazing! I can only imagine what it must look like up close. Shot with really great lighting!
Thank you very much Joanne ! Skimming light is the best to highlight engravingd, it also gives great results for sculpture photography…
– Hélène David-Cuny
A simply superb piece of photography by any means, and a remarkable subject.
Regards,
h
Thanks h, that peculiar model was very compliant…
– Hélène David-Cuny