Hi everyone

Getting back to reviewing after a few life issues and no mojo !!!!

.....So I thought I would start with a bust ....a female ......someone who was considered a beauty in the ancient world of the Egyptian ...it is of course Cleopatra .

Released a little while back by Nuts Planet and announced here:

https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/nutsplanet-s-new-release-of-may.116171/

Who was Cleopatra?

Born in 70 or 69 BC she was a daughter of Ptolemy XII (Auletes). In 51 B.C., upon the apparently natural death of Auletes, the Egyptian throne passed to 18-year-old Cleopatra and her 10-year-old brother, Ptolemy XIII.

After meeting Caesar who was some 30 years older he stayed in Egypt with Cleopatra for a time, and around 47 B.C. she gave birth to a son, Ptolemy Caesar. He was believed to be Caesar’s child, and was known by the Egyptian people as Caesarion, or Little Caesar.

Mark Anthony comes into her life as well when so the story goes Cleopatra sailed to Tarsus in an elaborate ship, dressed in the robes of Isis. Antony, who associated himself with the Greek deity Dionysus, was seduced by her charms. He agreed to protect Egypt and Cleopatra’s crown, pledging support for the removal of her younger sister and rival Arsinoe, then in exile. Cleopatra returned to Egypt, followed shortly thereafter by Antony, who left behind his third wife, Fulvia, and their children in Rome. He spent the winter of 41-40 B.C. in Alexandria, during which he and Cleopatra famously formed a drinking society called “The Inimitable Livers.” In 40 B.C., after Antony’s return to Rome, Cleopatra gave birth to twins, Alexander Helios (sun) and Cleopatra Selene (moon).

In the Battle of Actium. Cleopatra’s ships deserted the battle and fled to Egypt, and Antony soon managed to break away and follow her with a few ships. With Alexandria under attack from Octavian’s forces, Antony heard a rumor that Cleopatra had committed suicide. He fell on his sword, and died just as news arrived that the rumor had been false.

On August 12, 30 B.C., after burying Antony and meeting with the victorious Octavian, Cleopatra closed herself in her chamber with two of her female servants. The means of her death is uncertain, but Plutarch and other writers advanced the theory that she used a poisonous snake known as the asp, a symbol of divine royalty.

There are naturally books available for further reading including these:

Continued in next post

Nap

Release details are :

Title: Cleopatra

Reference: NP-B034

Scale:: 1/12th

Material: Light Gray Resin

No of parts: 2

Sculptor : Jun Sik Ahn

Box art : Myeong-ha Hwang


General comments

• My initial thoughts are this has a "Hollywood" feel about it with the sculptor concentrating on the beauty of the female form and not so much the known historical .

• This sculpt is in my opinion all about the interaction between Cleopatra and the snake and it works really well with the snake entwined around her body and being held before the fateful bite

• The bust itself is angled very nicely at the lower edge finishing the piece well similar to my last review here: https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/nuts-planet-presents-succubus.115676/
• Consisting of just the 2 parts main torso and the right lower arm together with a part of the snake.
• Parts were held in the blue cardboard box and kept safe between foam layer

Prep

As with all of Nuts Planet releases we have a very smooth resin surface.

1. The main torso has a casting block needing removal at the lower edge together with one at the back of the arm
2. A quite heavy casting line on the upper torso arm which goes down across the arm bracelet and down the centre at the sides this will need careful removal ( seen in pictures)
3. There is also a lesser casting line on the left side ( seen in pictures)
4. A small casting block from the separate arm
5. A casting line just below the thumb and a tiny bit of flashing at the fingers
6. A slight bit of sanding and filling where the arm joins.

Lets look at the resin

Torso

The sculpting of the female form is very good indeed with her breasts being held in place by a lightweight material ....great opportunity to paint see through material here.

The folds on the material is very naturally done pulling into her breasts with a slight gap at the lower edges where it goes down across the body

The lower torso shapes out slightly at the upper hip accentuating the female form very nicely , with the belly button and rib definition being seen

Around her neck we have the collar this is well sculpted with the details being sharp and well defined in shapes.

Above the collar we see 2 strings of beads these are very nicely shaped and rounded and with no flashing to deal with.

Perhaps the most striking part of the sculpt has to be in my opinion the hair its beautifully done with the hair being braided and having beads, rings on the lower parts , all of which are a real pleasure to see.

Across her forehead with the hair strands being of the same high quality as the braided parts ...this is very much a "Hollywood" style of haircut ...Elizabeth Taylor comes to mind.

The face is one of a beautiful woman with really finely sculpted and cast features , the eyes are very well shaped with upper and lower lids , cheek bones are not overdone, the nose is well shaped with the mouth being slightly open the lips full and sensual as only Cleopatra could have been .

The torso is entwined by the snake this has very good texture on the skin the form hugging the torso beautifully ...almost framing her , I particularly like the way the ends are in relation to the body

Enjoy the pictures:



Continued in the next post

Nap

Onto the 2nd and last piece of resin

Arm

This needs to be fitted to the torso , easy to do as we have been thoughtfully supplied with a good 2 point fitting

The arm has been cut just above the elbow and has been cleverly sculpted and cast to include the snake itself, its body working its way around and fitting accurately into the part on the torso .

When in place the snake has its head proud with again the textures being well shown and the actual head being a really good shape you can almost hear it hiss!!!!!

The arm is thin in total conjunction with the torso , and whats particularly noticeable here are the fingers these are really finely done ...so again I say WELL DONE to both sculptor and casting team .





Final Thoughts

A well executed piece , little bit more prep needed with the casting lines , however in my mind the sculptor has achieved what he wanted ...a beautiful young woman together with her nemesis...the snake. , basing up will need consideration as not actual locating area is in place .

What this release does give you is a great addition to the display cabinet , hours of fun painting it , with the challenge not only of the female flesh by the snake also .

This could also be easily painted as a fantasy piece

A good addition , I am sure it will be popular .

Lets enjoy the fabulous box artwork by Myeong-Ha Hwang

For more details on this and other releases from Nuts have a look at their website

www.nutsplanet.com

or follow on FB and here on PF

Thanks to Nuts for the Review model and for you all for looking in

Nap

Top-notch review Kev. You haven't lost your touch!

I really like this one and I might pick it up at some point. Outside my usual comfort zone and a challenge to paint (for me anyway), which is a big part of its appeal.

- Steve