bronze sculpture Flashcards
steps of bronze sculpture lost wax casting (full)
1.)Model-making: The artist carves a design out of wax or clay
2.)Create a plaster mold of the existing model (into a block that can then be seperated in half)
3.)pour wax into the mold
4.)wax is swished around inside the mold to ensure an even coating, then poured out. the result is a hollow model of the sculpture in wax
5.)fine details are engraved upon the hollow wax sculpture
6.)channels made of wax (called sprues) are fixed onto the wax mold
and bronze pins are inserted into the wax mold to keep it stable as the wax melts
7.)plaster is used to surround the wax mold and coat the outside, creating the final mold
8.)the final mold is placed into the kiln and the wax melts and runs out
9.)bronze melted at 1400 degrees celsius
10.)melted bronze is poured into the mold
11.)once the bronze has cooled the plaster mold is broken
12.)the sprues are cut off and pins are removed
13.)CHASING: The tooling of a metal surface by denting or hammering to create pattern, texture or a smoothing effect following the lost-wax process.
14.)the sculpture is polished (patination- creation of a patina through polishing)
step 1
Model-making: The artist carves a design out of wax or clay
step 2
Create a plaster mold of the existing model (into a block that can then be seperated in half)
step 3
pour wax into the mold
step 4
wax is swished around inside the mold to ensure an even coating, then poured out. the result is a hollow model of the sculpture in wax
step 5
fine details are engraved upon the hollow wax sculpture
step 6
channels made of wax (called sprues) are fixed onto the wax mold
and bronze pins are inserted into the wax mold to keep it stable as the wax melts
step 7
plaster is used to surround the wax mold and coat the outside, creating the final mold
step 8
the final mold is placed into the kiln and the wax melts and runs out
step 9 (starting casting in bronze)
bronze melted at 1400 degrees celsius
step 10
melted bronze is poured into the mold
step 11
once the bronze has cooled the plaster mold is broken
step 12
the sprues are cut off and pins are removed
step 13
CHASING: The tooling of a metal surface by denting or hammering to create pattern, texture or a smoothing effect following the lost-wax process.
extra details scratched in
step 14
the sculpture is polished (patination- creation of a patina through polishing)
what is bronze an aloy of
copper and tin (also contains zinc)
features of bronze
-strong and durable
-can capture the fine, complex detail in a plasting mold
-10x more expensive than marble- connotations of status
-noble associations as used in classical antiquity
why is bronze term also sometimes used for brass
its an alloy of copper and zinc
what are the two basic methods of casting bronze
There are two basic methods of casting a bronze. Sand casting is a simple technique that uses moulds made of compact, fine sand. Lost-wax casting is a complex process using wax models.
when was the revival of the lost wax technique of classical antiquity
Renaissance- 15th Century
benefits of using lost wax casting process
via the casting process, bronze can pick up the details of the original model - allows for fine detail: muscles, sinews, hair, drapery folds etc
how are peices put together if they are cast in bronzze separately
they are welded together
whats the effect of patination
Varied surface colours are possible through patination – this can be artificial or natural
tensile strength of bronze?
High tensile strength of bronze allows for unsupported free-standing forms, daring/exaggerated poses and slender projections
example: visual analysis of donatello’s David
Rippling muscles on stomach are made possible by modelling
Excessively smooth patina and highly polished surface contributes to elegance and refinement and also furthers the appearance of youthful skin
Sharp detail on hair, features, decorative details on Goliath’s head possible in original model and could have been reinforced during chasing - adds to realism
Upright, unsupported figure, projecting arm and sword made possible by tensile strength of bronze; angularity
Association of bronze male figure with classical heroes
Artist may have made us of separate casting for this complex sculpture, and then joined the pieces at the end of the process. Chasing has eradicated any evidence of this.
