Jim Charter <jrc### [at] aolcom> wrote in message
news:3f32e0af$1@news.povray.org...
> Steve Bennett takes 'mystery' as a point of departure for a well
> elaborated piece of historical fiction.
>
> A visit to the artist's website shows that he has an interest in mixing
> various states of reality, from inner experience, throught to the
> metaphysical, the mythic and the legendary.  He picks an interesting
> moment to depict.  A real life mortal living in an age of oracles, is
> recorded as journeying to visit one, before he goes on to epic
> achievements in his life and in history.
>
> Bennett takes an illustrator's approach to telling the story, choosing
> to show a precise moment during the event.  Having just finished his
> consultation, Alexander strides toward greatness, and the oracle, caught
> in midstep, drops a small golden vessel.  We are given a fictional
> moment in a real event.  But it makes our experience intimate.
>
> The picture is a texture-mapping tour-de-force. The temple chambers at
> Siwah are depicted as sumptuous with every surface covered in painted
> murals or reliefs. Massive pillars frame a wide low space. Richly
> decorated statues guard the portal to an inner chamber. A curtain of
> jewels spans the foreground. Vases and a carpet lush with detailing
> occupy the foreground. Fictional lighting highlights the opulence of the
> scene and alludes to the possible metaphysics at work.
>

The lighting really made this one work IMO.  Technically quite well done,
with the texturing standing out. The columns would have benefited from more
detailed modeling, as the mapping on the tops does not respond to the light
well, leaving the top looking flat.

Artistically it failed to excite me other than for the vivid colors which
kept me from lowering the artistic score to average.  The Egyptian/Roman
theme is a heavily favored one in CG, but as Shay says, it's lifeless unless
approached from a unique perspective, and other than the colorful lighting
this perspective didn't break any new ground.

Conceptually he presents a historical snapshot of a mysterious moment after.
What did the oracle tell Alexander? What is she seeing as he leaves? Is it
something in her mind, or is something in the chamber? These unanswered
questions leave a tension to the image that overcomes its artistic
weaknesses and makes the viewer take a second look.

The overall effect is a nicely mysterious and attractive image. Good job.

RG

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