The fascination for antiquity remains unbroken to this day. But how has the view of this era changed over the centuries? Paintings and sculptures, drawings, prints and comics provide information about antiquity as a rich source of inspiration and its diverse influences on myths and fashion, architecture and sculpture. Works from the 16th to 20th centuries from the collection of the Clemens Sels Museum Neuss once again demonstrate what »Antiquity Reloaded« can mean.
The enthusiasm for mythological stories about the lives, loves and sufferings of figures such as Venus, Mars and Cupid is currently experiencing a real renaissance, especially in pop culture – from series and films to novels, comics and computer games. The adventures of ancient gods and goddesses as well as heroes and heroines have been a source of inspiration for artists since the early modern era. The former omnipresence of mythological themes can be impressively traced in numerous works: from the sun god Apollo and the hunting goddess Diana to Hercules and fabulous monsters such as the Sphinx and the three-headed hellhound Cerberus. Paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints by Gustave Moreau (1826-1898), Odilon Redon (1840-1916), Ker Xavier-Roussel (1867-1944), Walter Crane (1845-1915), Max Klinger (1857-1920) and Annibale Carracci (1560-1609) invite to participate on an exciting journey through the world of ancient myths and legends.
The influence of classical fashion on artistic depictions of clothing from the 16th century onwards can also be traced in many variations. The garments – from tunics and togas to ancient armour – inspired the work of many artists. For example, works by Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) and Georg Pencz (ca. 1500-1550), Angelika Kauffmann (1741-1807) and Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882), Max Klinger (1857-1920) and James Ensor (1860-1949) reveal a wide variety of forms of classically styled clothing.
Ever since Goethe’s famous journey, Italy has been associated with southern images of longing that have magically attracted many generations of artists. For centuries, Rome has been both dream and destination of countless travellers. Renowned artists from Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) to Guido Reni (1575-1642) and Johann Wilhelm Schirmer (1807-1863) embarked on the Grand Tour that aristocrats had undertaken to Italy since the late 16th century. They were inspired by the ancient treasures and the light-flooded Campagna and created a fascinating monument to Rome in numerous works.
»These Romans are crazy!« – this quote from the comic heroes Asterix and Obelix has long been legendary. The two intrepid Gauls made their first appearance in 1961, and the cult figures from France are still hugely popular. The most successful comic figures in Europe shaped the image of Roman antiquity for generations. A targeted selection of historical comics, animation cells and drawings as well as game figures invites you to travel back in time to the year 50 BC, when the whole of Gaul was occupied by the Romans. In a comic reading corner, visitors can browse to their heart’s content through all the Asterix books published to date.
