Bust of an Englishman
"The original sculpture is presented on the mantelpiece of the Queen's chamber at The Chateau of Versailles.Marie-Antoinette knew how to surround herself with the most talented artists of the time, such as Félix Lecomte who made her bust in Carrara marble in 1783.The Queen of France is represented in all the dignity of her position. She is draped in a floral royal coat and lined with ermine. Her high wig, in the style of the time, is enriched with flowers, including a finely worked rose, held by a ribbon. On her neck, the sovereign wears a medallion with the profile of Louis XVI.Queen for nine years and mother of two children, Marie-Antoinette is only twenty-eight years old in this depiction. The artist reveals the freshness of her youth in the graceful headdress and the light smile on her face.Critics of the time praised this tour de force, "The sculptor seems to have reserved all the art, all the precision, all the softness of his chisel for the queen's bust, representing her in ceremonial clothing... Grace and nobility cannot be united in a higher degree on a physiognomy.."
Ref https://open.smk.dk/artwork/image/KAS2018
Museum: SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst - The Statens Museum for Kunst (National Art Museum of Denmark) was founded in 1849 when the Danish royal collections became property of the people. Today we at SMK want to contribute to building a more creative and reflective society that values its history and cherishes difference.
Artist: Felix Lecompte
The images show the real bust and the computer render of the 3d cad file.
Colour
The resin is a wonderful marble white (a delicate off white) that is reminiscent of the transluscency that you see on marble.
Height
5cm tall
Museum
Metropilitan Museum of Art
NOTES
The design will be supplied unfinished and very little preparation is required prior to painting. The colour us a very pale Ivory which you can leave as it is or if you want to bring out the detailing paint over with a runny layer of Raw umber and then wipe off to leave the raw umber in the recesses.
To paint the item
I strongly recommend a spray primer. Spray primers are the easiest and just a light coat with give the paint something to 'key' with......then the choice is yours. I use all types of paints from acrylics to cellulose spray paints. All have their own merits and so I choose according to the finish I wish to create.
After applying my coats of paint I will always add an aging layer of raw umber acrylic (water it down and then paint and wipe off to leave the dark paint in the recesses). Aging can be very rewarding and there are many options for this. One little recommendation is to use rotten stone/pumice stone powder to add what I like to describe as "dust" to the piece. It is a powder and will always be a powder unless mixed with a binder such as glue. The powder is a soft grey and if it is brished on then off it will leave a slight dusting in the recesses of the design.
A final flourish of splatter (very subtle brown/grey applied with by splattering the paint from a bristled brush such as a toothbrush) adds a little more interest.
Ref: R 12th scale Bust of Marie Antoinette 1783
Always prime metal using a spray metal primer available online in most countries. I use Rust-oleum.
Spray paints: I tend to use platikote and rust-oleum but there are many other brands who sell similar products. In the UK you can pick them up in B&Q but also available in abundance online. The choices are huge but my all time favorite colour is Rust-oleum Hessian. It is a taupe and works well if you are looking for a old heavy brown cream finish.
Paints: use almost anything - emulsion (wall paint - sample pots are cheap), acrylic, oils (generally you will get a sheen). Alway use a fine brush and dont apply too much - you can always add layers which look better than clumpy thick layers.
Make your own paints using https://www.cornelissen.com/pigments-gums-and-resins.html then add a binder such as glue or wax.
Gold and silver: Gold leaf but also gold particles suspended in a medium suitable for painting etc. This is a huge area and so I will offer a few of my favorites:
- Spray gold - lots of choice online
- If you plan to use gold leaf or Dutch metal (a cheaper and easier to use alternative) then paint the item red or yellow. This will show through the cracks and add depth.
- You will need to use Gold leaf "size" when applying leaf - its a sticky glue that doesnt stop being sticky
- I like Polyurethane gold - its easy to apply and you can wash brushes in water but its hard to source and will go off after a few years. I buy mine from "Bristol paints" https://www.bristolpaint.com/metallic/polyurethane
Some links to gold and silver finishes that I would recommend -
- Connoissier https://www.jacksonsart.com/brands/connoisseur
- https://www.croberson.co.uk/product-sections/roberson-gilding-materials.html
- https://www.robersonliquidmetal.co.uk/
- https://www.tiranti.co.uk/Products/gold-leaf
- https://www.modernmasters.com/landing/homeowners/brands/mpc
- https://www.bristolpaint.com/metallic/acrylic
- https://www.bristolpaint.com/metallic/polyurethane
- for people in the USA: https://sculptnouveau.com/products/metal-coatings
Of course you can make your own! Use bronze powder which is available in silver, gold, brass, bronze etc colours. Add this to wax or a glue so that it has a binder. If there are any salts in the glue then you will see your gold oxidise!
Varnish?
- I love to use wax on some items as the sheen is soft and it gives a classic patina.
- Spray varnish - polyeurethane can go yellow!
- Brushed on varnish such as modge podge is great and comes in different sheen levels.