The grand historical portrait thread
Also take a look at these for other ideas on adding historical portraits, busts, statues, etc...into the game.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=156989
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=138808
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=150941
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=146812
Personally, I do not much care for adding them to the general/commander's portrait in game, but I'm certainly not against it. Its just IMHO the majesty of the sculpture, coin, bust, painting, etc... is lost when you shrink it down. However, thats a great idea if you are tired of always seeing Celtic general portraits magically commanding the armies of Dacia, Germany, or Iberia.
The ones I've done below I want to use for loading screens of some kind that depict battles, biographies, and other interesting things. Depending on what sides are in the battle and what factions are done in game, certain battle screens will have to wait. Anything involving Romans will at least, like the Sambre River (Belgae vs. Rome), Alesia (Arverni vs. Rome), etc... As each faction gets done, then the door opens up that much more to include another faction with its own rich history, wars, leaders, and even unit card type screen showcasing a particular unit.
Now, heres ones I've done. I try and get them as real looking as possible, but it all depends on the condition of the bust or sculpture. Ones that are pitted, cracked, broken off, worn down, are very difficult. Also, I forgot to do some research on what they actually looked like, if theres any mention of their physical appearance. Hair or eye colors might be wrong. A second set of eyes works wonders on things like this. Critique them allI'm constantly improving to all these, so they'll get better as time goes on. These are just what I've done so far.
Ptolemy IV
Ptolemy IV's bust I wanted to further inflict harm upon. It was that hard. His busts were all worn away and chipped, but I did some plastic surgery and got him up to snuff. The nose and chin are pasted on, then blurred, sanded, whitened, and other effects.
Original:
Revised:
Antiochus III of the Seleucids
Pretty easy. His bust was well preserved. Still a little rough around the edges. Once I started on him, I knew I had to get a suitable Ptolemy IV for a Raphia battle screen. Plan on seeing him in a Magnesia-Thermopylae, Raphia, and Panion/Panium battle screen of some kind.
Original:
Revised:
Eumenes II of Pergamon
Another nearly impossible one to do from the bad condition of the surviving statue. Might looks a little airbrushed or cartoony only because of the bad condition. Need to lighten up some areas and make his skin a bit more pink plus make the head band a bit more blended. This one still needs work. Hes up for Magnesia.
Original:
Revised:
Revised 2:
Mithradates VI
The guy who was poison proof. As a Pontic guy, I would assume he'd look more Persian/eastern than Hellenic, thus his appearance. The lack of facial features or cheek/jaw indentations meant I had to shade the face myself. Quite difficult to make it real. I added eyes to the lion because it looked better than leaving the sockets empty, plus it seems like an eastern king would have jewels or something in the sockets.
Original:
Revised:
Revised 2:
Ambiorix of the Eburones Belgae
My favorite so far. Though the historical accuracy of what hes wearing can be questioned, you'll not find another Ambiorix anywhere to my knowledge. There are two because I am undecided on which is better. In the top one he looks more striking and vivid but also a bit more cartoon like. The bottom one he looks more real IMHO, but the black statue makes it hard to achieve a good pigmentation. I can somehow add a chin to Ptolemy but could not get that "thing" off the top of his helmet. I've not given up on it though. Y'all decide which looks best.
Original:
Revised 1:
Revised 2:
Hanibal Barca of Carthage
Gotta love ol' Hannibal. This one was very easy, despite its looks. The bust was smooth, intact, and in perfect condition it seemed. Overall this was pretty easy to do.
Original:
Revised:
If there are any specific busts or statues that y'all think need to be here for a battle, post them up and I will get around to having a go at them. Just remember that the better the condition of statue or bust, the more real it can look (and easier on me without replacing noses and chins). Anyone feel free to have a hand at this yourself also as I'm not laying claim to all relevant loading screen art stuff. If something looks weird in ones I've done and you have time to improve them, save the image and edit it, I do not mind at all.
More to come in the future...
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Originally Posted by SquidSK
