Plague Doctor 1650

[Gaudin]

Hi Everyone,

Allow me to show my Plague Doctor - some may remember the sculpt some time ago now.

It is my first attempt to paint a miniature or a bust, as previously I was concentrating on sculpting.
My hand was forced, so to say, and I had to paint it, so the learning curve was huge in last 2 weeks.
Also I hope pictures came out ok.

Oils, pastels, acrylics, plastic

Comments welcome, as always

Loosely based on 2 historical sources (below) - one is an original manuscript - probably the only good one availiable
Doktor Schnabel von Rom ("Doctor Beak of Rome"), engraving by Paul Fürst, 1656
and another is an original outfit held in a museum in Denmark.

As medical thought of the time went, the belief was that plague was caused by miasma/putrid air so if you seal yourself in a suit and wear a mask - you will be fine. The leather mask's beak was filled with flower petals, herbs and incense. Eye sockets were protected by red-tinted glass to ward off demons. They would use a long stick to examine bodies and direct corpse carts.

Needless to say, fleas were able to get anywhere they wanted and plague marched on, killing thousands.
Being a plague doctor was unpleasant, dangerous, and difficult. Their chances of survival in times of a plague epidemic were slim

 

[Osebor]

Nothing less than an original work!

 

[Anastasiya]

Сool!!!!! Really like the way you painted leather mask and red glass looks great! Very unusual and interesting piece.

 

[Martin64]

At the first glance it does not look like a historical piece - but it is! Well done.

Cheers!
Martin

 

[Gaudin]

Guys, thank you very much

At the first glance it does not look like a historical piece - but it is! Well done.

Of course it is historical and fully researched too I decided to avoid adding words "inspired by steampunk" but it was very tempting.

Here is all background for the piece http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/plague-doctor-1650.44873/

 

[John Bowery]

Nicely done and very original.
Cheers
John

 

[Nap]

Hi Guadin ,
I was actaully looking back on PF at this when it was originally posted , this is a great piece and one which allows the painter to use his talents to bring alive the otherwise drab colours ...plenty of area's to work on , leather etc and of course the blacks as well .

Cerainly a well researched piece and one can only imagine the horror of the plague and the victim when faced with the "doctor" coming at him dressed like this .

Thanks for posting

Nap

 

[Anastasiya]

Will it be available commercially? I'd love to paint one!

 

[DEL]

Great paint job on an unusual piece. Really interesting back story on this, the plague doctors must have been so frightening and sinister to look at yet trying to do good within their limited knowledge.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Gaudin]

Thank you, guys.

It is now available, thanks to Grod.

http://www.planetfigure.com/threads/plague-doctor.54607/

 

[Helm]

Any idea how they tinted the lenses was it done with pigments/paints like stained glass ?

Steve

 

[Gaudin]

Its a very good question - I don't know for sure. I think staining is more plausible than genuine red glass which would have been expensive. Some had netting instead of glass.