In July 1798, Napoleon led a campaign into Egypt and Syria as a means to conquer the region and, in the words of unreliable history textbooks, to establish trade and scientific exchange. It was Napoleon's campaign to Egypt and Syria that uncovered the Rosetta Stone, although it came at the cost of about 65,000 lives. Napoleon's campaign has been famously dramatized in a series of paintings, several of which director Ridley Scott recreated for his new biopic "Napoleon." The above scene of Napoleon (Joaquin Phoenix) sitting on horseback in front of the Sphinx is taken from Jean-Léon Gérôme's 1897 portrait, called "Oedipus," painted to celebrate the centennial of the event.
After Scott stages a scene of Napoleon firing cannons at the Pyramids of Giza, he then recreates another notable painting, this time by French artist Maurice Orange who, in the late 19th century, painted "Bonaparte at the Pyramids." In Orange's portrait,...
After Scott stages a scene of Napoleon firing cannons at the Pyramids of Giza, he then recreates another notable painting, this time by French artist Maurice Orange who, in the late 19th century, painted "Bonaparte at the Pyramids." In Orange's portrait,...
- 11/22/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Gladiator was based on several fictionalized Roman Empire histories, films, characters, and events. While it aimed to tell ancient Roman history beyond the popularized cliché represented in media for decades, director Ridley Scott and his writers had to improvise and settle for a script well-adapted for the big screen. Enticed by a copy of Jean-Léon Gérôme‘s 1872 painting, “Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down)”, Scott knew the film would focus on a gladiatorial arc. By every standard, Scott’s Gladiator was a success. The epic historical drama easily grossed $503.2 million on a $103 million budget. Also, Gladiator received the highest number of...
- 6/10/2023
- by Onyinye Izundu
- TVovermind.com
When Walter F. Parkes and Douglas Wick approached Ridley Scott to direct Gladiator, Scott was almost immediately sold for one reason. The producers presented Scott with a copy of the 1872 Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down) by Jean-Léon Gérôme, and the idea of filming an ancient Roman Empire movie caught Scott’s attention. However, Scott made it clear from the onset he had no interest in making stereotypical Roman Empire movies. Nevertheless, the inspiration behind Gladiator came from older movies. The first thing Scott sought to change was David Frazoni‘s dialogue in his original speech. To help build Gladiator‘s screenplay, Scott and...
- 6/9/2023
- by Onyinye Izundu
- TVovermind.com
“The Avengers,” “Alien Resurrection” and “The Fifth Element” are just a few of the high-profile films that illustrator Sylvain Despretz has worked on; he’s also collaborated with masters of filmmaking including Ridley Scott, Stanley Kubrick and David Fincher.
Now Despretz is sharing his art in the book “Los ángeles,” published in May by Caurette. It not only offers insight into his craft but provides film buffs with a glimpse into the importance of illustration in cinema.
Whether it’s motion, sound, imagery composition or movement, Despretz explains, “it’s how we tell stories without words.”
Of particular interest is Scott’s 2000 “Gladiator,” which won five Oscars, including best picture, costumes and special effects. Despretz describes the director as “very instinctive and very intuitive, visually. He will start with an image, which is his vision of the film.”
In “Gladiator,” Scott’s inspiration was the painting “Pollice Verso” by French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme.
Now Despretz is sharing his art in the book “Los ángeles,” published in May by Caurette. It not only offers insight into his craft but provides film buffs with a glimpse into the importance of illustration in cinema.
Whether it’s motion, sound, imagery composition or movement, Despretz explains, “it’s how we tell stories without words.”
Of particular interest is Scott’s 2000 “Gladiator,” which won five Oscars, including best picture, costumes and special effects. Despretz describes the director as “very instinctive and very intuitive, visually. He will start with an image, which is his vision of the film.”
In “Gladiator,” Scott’s inspiration was the painting “Pollice Verso” by French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme.
- 6/25/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme’s 1872 painting of gladiators and spectators, “Pollice Verso,” remains one of the defining portraits of ancient Rome. With its depiction of two fighters in the Colosseum, one standing and the other vanquished, pleading for mercy, it works as a paradox: The viewer is given both a sense of moral superiority over the distant past and a discreet delight as the crowd lowers their thumbs in bloodlust, demanding death. Historically accurate or not, it sets imaginations aflutter, and it alone convinced Ridley Scott to direct Gladiator.
Producer Douglas Wick remembers that well. After all, it did lead to him winning an Academy Award for Best Picture. But long before that 2001 Oscar night, he and Walter F. Parkes, studio head of DreamWorks Pictures, were sitting in Scott’s office, trying to convince the eclectic filmmaker behind Alien and Blade Runner about the virtues of a screenplay … all the while Scott,...
Producer Douglas Wick remembers that well. After all, it did lead to him winning an Academy Award for Best Picture. But long before that 2001 Oscar night, he and Walter F. Parkes, studio head of DreamWorks Pictures, were sitting in Scott’s office, trying to convince the eclectic filmmaker behind Alien and Blade Runner about the virtues of a screenplay … all the while Scott,...
- 6/16/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
For director Ridley Scott, it was one look at a 19th-century neoclassical work of art that convinced him to make the Oscar-winning picture “Gladiator.” Jean-Léon Gérôme’s painting “Pollice Verso” depicts an armored gladiator in the ring, triumphantly facing onlookers as the crowd reacts with thumbs turned down, signaling their approval for the fighter to deliver a final, fatal blow. Without even knowing what the film’s story would be, Scott signed on to build a Roman Empire saga that would go on to score five Academy Awards.
Raking in over $460 million dollars globally on what Scott told Variety was at the time a massive budget of $103 million, the film triumphed at the box office when it debuted on May 5, 2000. The Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix action drama paved the way for more historical epics like “300,” “Troy” and “Centurion.” Steven Spielberg at Dreamworks, already in a three-picture deal with screenwriter David Franzoni,...
Raking in over $460 million dollars globally on what Scott told Variety was at the time a massive budget of $103 million, the film triumphed at the box office when it debuted on May 5, 2000. The Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix action drama paved the way for more historical epics like “300,” “Troy” and “Centurion.” Steven Spielberg at Dreamworks, already in a three-picture deal with screenwriter David Franzoni,...
- 5/4/2020
- by Mackenzie Nichols
- Variety Film + TV
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