 |
| 2/19/15 Diamine Chocolate Brown and Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun inks, Canson XL 140 lb. paper |
The Pacific Science Center is showing Pompeii: The Exhibition, a fascinating collection of artifacts
unearthed from the city that was buried under Mt. Vesuvius’ ashes in 79 A.D. In
addition to architectural features, domestic items, art and other objects that
have been recovered, the exhibit includes short CG-animated video programs
showing what life for the residents of Pompeii might have been like.
Although the artifacts were interesting, what I found most
moving was the resin replicas of casts made of individuals who had been
instantly killed by the volcanic eruption, the form of their bodies perfectly preserved
through the centuries. Seeing the remains of the way they lived seemed
commonplace compared to seeing the way they had died so suddenly in an
explosion of fire and ash.
Unfortunately for me, it is the type of exhibition that
attracts so many people (“Final U.S. Showing through May 25!”) that we were
herded through each room without much space or time to sketch. I saw a number
of sculptures I would have liked to capture, as well as the cast replicas of the
bodies. Alas, all I managed to sketch was this small bronze lamp stand in the
shape of a man’s head.
I did take a few photos, though (difficult in the dark
rooms, since flash wasn’t allowed), including this one of a cast child. The
placard reads, “This young child was one of 13 men, women and children who died
in a large garden or vineyard near the city wall. Found as a group, they all
died in a single moment as they apparently tried to flee the pyroclastic surges
of heat, hot gases, rock and ash of Vesuvius, six miles away.”
The exhibit ends with information about the several active
volcanoes around Seattle, including Mt. Rainier, less than a hundred miles away.
Glad you've got a new exhibit to sketch. Don't you find that the crowds thin out after the first week or so? I mentioned elsewhere that I go to view an exhibit when it opens without worrying about sketching. Going back a week later keeps me from being trampled by the herd :-)
ReplyDeleteToo bad it was too crowded for much sketching. It boggles my mind that so many people were instantly killed and preserved in the positions they were in at the time. It must have been an interesting exhibit to see.
ReplyDelete