Bronze and Sculptures

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What Came First--Bronze Weapons or Bronze Art?

All of the great civilizations of the old world created bronze art usually after first using bronze in the production of weapons.

It is noteworthy to mention that the Greeks were the first to make their figures life-size. Whereas very few Greek bronze cast works still exist, however, significantly more Roman bronze statues and sculptures have survived.

During the many years of Egyptian dynastic art, thousands upon thousands of bronze figurines were created via the lost wax technique. To this day, several thousand Egyptian bronze figurines are currently on display in museum collections throughout the world. From these beginnings, bronze sculptural art has continued to prosper up to the present time.

After World War I fantasy became a central theme in representational sculpture. For example, images originating from science fiction, dreams, and erotic fantasies became commonplace sculptural motifs during this time period.

The metal most frequently used for sculptures is bronze. Bronze is very strong, long lasting, and hard and as a result it allows more design flexibility than is possible with wood or stone. Since it is corrosion resistant and does not easily break under stress, bronze is easily formed into finished shapes via casting, machining, or molding.

Why Does Bronze Develop a Green Patina as it Oxidizes?

As bronze weathers, a brown or green film forms on the surface. This thin natural patina actually reduces further corrosion or oxidation as well as increases its aesthetic qualities. As proof of the durability of bronze, there are numerous bronze garden sculptures and statues that were made hundreds of years ago that reveal little if any measure of deterioration.

Since bronze easily flows into the smallest of areas in a mold, it therefore reproduces the minutest detail of the most gracefully modeled sculptures in a flawless manner.

Bronze Human Figures, Animals and Special Creatures

Not surprisingly, the most important and widely emulated subject matter of sculptures throughout history has been the human figure. Next in significance, however, are animals and extraordinary creatures that have their basis in human and animal forms and combinations.

Other items such as still lifes, plants, landscapes, and architecture, moreover, have served mainly as accessories to human and animal sculptures and not as themes in their own right.

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