Pteruges

[FlaviusCrispus]

I don't know if that's the case here, Eisenberg may know his stuff, and I will have to read the article, but it's entirely possible he's approaching this with an "old school" mentality that isn't as current.

I rather doubt it. Jerry Eisenberg is incredibly knowledgeable about all periods of ancient art and I seriously doubt whether he would make the mistake of judging one era by the standards of another.

I think you're probably right, but "vamping" could be happening in the Valens statue as well.

Yes, but if he was vamping, at least the Colossus sculptor had a better understanding of military gear and vamped correctly.

Well that goes without saying. If you look back at my first reaction I said "This is late so we can't say for sure, but it really is exciting."

OK, point taken. I just thought you were getting a little over-excited over something that probably has very little relevance to the question of what ancient musculatae were made of.

Well I would disagree with that categorization. I would say that they have dramatically different styles for different reasons, but to each his own.

I understand-- you're being commendably impartial and non-judgemental about the talent of our artists, as befits a postmodern academic. I, on the other hand, love being partial and judgemental. I think the Honorius diptych is an atrocity, artistically speaking, while I love the Stilicho panels to pieces. Can't say why, they just strike me that way. Such is art.

Thanks for the exchange.

Travis

Me too! I'm loving this!