Bronze[青铜]

Bronze,longcelebratedforitsdurabilityandthewiderangeofeffectsthatitoffers,hasbeenprizedasanartisticmaterialinmanypartsoftheworldthroughouttheages.Magnificentbronzesculpturesfromancienttimeshaveemergedunscathedaftermillenniaonthesea-bed,andthematerialhasbeenusedforworksonallscales,fromtheminutetothemonumental.Thissumptuouscatalogue,publishedtoaccompanyalandmarkexhibitionattheRoyalAcademy,examinesbronzesearliestbeginningsinNorthAfrica,theMiddleEastandChina,asitleftbehindtoolsandweaponrytobecomeafine-artmaterial.LeadingauthoritieschartthevirtuosityofartistsinancientGreeceandRome;laterdevelopmentsinAsiaandAfrica;bronzesgreatfloweringintheEuropeanRenaissanceinthehandsofsuchfiguresasGhiberti,DonatelloandCellini;anditsuseinthemodernerabyartistsfromRodinandPicassotoBeuysandBourgeois.Auniquetestamenttotheworksofartthatonemediumhasinspired,Bronzecontainslavishcolourplatesofover150masterworksarrangedchronologicallytotakethereaderonavoyagethroughtime,tracingtheworkofbronzesculptors,castersandchasersthroughthecenturies.