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hinxlinx — Thumbs Down
#digitalart #digitalpainting #femalecharacter #illustration #romanempire #thumbsdown #polliceverso #elynx #軒 #ericlynxlin
Published: 2010-09-13 10:20:28 +0000 UTC; Views: 10060; Favourites: 231; Downloads: 0
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Description
Thumbs Down! (2010)This is a digital painting of a Roman female gladiator ready to execute her defeated opponent based on the thumbs down gesture from the Caesar and the displeased crowd. The name of the female warrior is Rowen, a character created by my friend Dirk Lancaster in 2001 for an unsuccessful game pitch.
She is an adept dual sword fighter who prefers to wield a gladius in her right hand while an exotic Indian weapon called Pata in her left hand. The decorations on her armor plate are based on Minoan marine art, hinting she is a native from the island of Crete.
The foreground gladiator in golden helmet and the background is based on the classic 1872 gladiator painting Pollice Verso by Jean-Léon Gérôme .
The logo I used on the red flag is a Roman graphic design I made for Dirk around the same time for his Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) group.
This artwork is a tribute to the unfinished project and is dedicated to my old friend.
(Disclaimer: The thumbs down hand gesture to determine mercy or death remains unclear in the historical and literary record so the painting title is based on popular and visual understanding, not intended to serve as an educational piece.)
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Comments: 45
I love the image, but I think the best thing about it is that you incorperated history with imagination. very nice.
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Thanks, glad you like it enough to praise it 4 times!
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This is an incredible piece!! Thank you for sharing it with the community!!
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Thanks, glad you find it interesting.
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You're super welcome!! It is a very vivid illustration and I barely ever see images of lady gladiators at work!! The detailed explanation makes it all the better!!
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Thank you very much, I am happy that the description helps make it better.
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Love this piece! The layering of foreground, middle, and background in a very limited space is really effective here, and tells the story quite nicely. I also really like the color scheme and how it moves from warm to cool and back as you look into the distance.
I didn't realize there were female gladiators at all. Had to look it up and read about it. Thanks for teaching me something today
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Thanks for the detailed comments, much appreciated to get your praise on what I was aiming for. As for teaching something, well like my disclaimer indicated: "...not for educational use!"
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It's too late! You already taught me something!
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LOL ok then, I will try harder not to next time... So have you read about of Roman Gladiatrix in history?
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Okay, let me start out by saying I adore this picture; but my inner geek must speak. The thumbs down in Roman Arena actually meant to put your sword away, like in your sheath, get it. and thumbs up was plunge it in to the opponents body. I understand why you did the thumbs down, a lot of people wouldn't get the "thumbs-up = death" thing, but my geek had to speak. Other than that, this is an amazing picture, ecspecially the female gladiators face!
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On the fact seeking department, here are my online researches of the subject:
On both Wikipedia pages Thumbs up and Pollice verso it says the hand gestures to determine mercy or death remain unclear in the historical and literary record.
On About.com it declared that there's no evidence to confirm thumbs up means death while the researchers believe thumbs turned (in motion) is the signal for kill.
On The Gladiator and the Thumb also confirmed there is no clear textual evidence for the position of the thumb. Some researchers believe an erect thumb (pointing upward) means death while thumb pressed down on the index finger of the closed fist signified mercy.
So here you go, I will revise my description to notify the public on the "fact" and feel free to reply and discuss what you think. Cheers!
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Dude, i have to salute you for doing you research.
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Hey Thanks for commenting and sharing the fact. You are the second person pointed out the fact to me, I'd recommend you to read the first comments from Murcuseo and also what I initially replied. It's not like I am being ignorant about the subject, I just named this based on pop culture. But I will seriously thinking about revising the title since more than one person has brought this matter up. Cheers!
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Oh, boy. How I love that armor of hers.
Another great work from you. (I know, that's what I always say but seriously, it's what I think. 
Victory!!!
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I found out a couple of weeks ago that the thumbs up or down gesture were actually the other way round in the times of real Gladiators.
Quote from wiki:
"The Latin phrase pollice verso is used in the context of gladiatorial combat for a hand gesture used by Ancient Roman crowds to pass judgment on a defeated gladiator. However, the type of gesture described by the phrase pollice verso and its meaning is unclear in the historical and literary record.
In modern popular culture, it is assumed that "thumbs down" was the signal that a defeated gladiator should be condemned to death; "thumbs up", that he should be spared, but it is really the other way round.A view popularized by a widely reproduced painting by the 19th-century artist Jean-Léon Gérôme, whose Pollice Verso (usually known in English as "Thumbs Down") depicts a triumphant gladiator looking up into the stands for the verdict of the crowd."
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On the fact seeking department, here are my online researches of the subject:
On both Wikipedia pages Thumbs up and Pollice verso it says the hand gestures to determine mercy or death remain unclear in the historical and literary record.
On About.com it declared that there's no evidence to confirm thumbs up means death while the researchers believe thumbs turned (in motion) is the signal for kill.
On The Gladiator and the Thumb also confirmed there is no clear textual evidence for the position of the thumb. Some researchers believe an erect thumb (pointing upward) means death while thumb pressed down on the index finger of the closed fist signified mercy.
So here you go, I will revise my description to notify the public on the "fact" and feel free to reply and discuss what you think. Cheers!
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Cool, you seem to have done some decent research into it. To be honest I think my main source was actually a programme called QI in the UK hosted by Stephen Fry. He mentioned it when they were talking about Gladiators, I usually prosume he's right on most occasions so don't research the things he says.
Thanks for the info.
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lol I know it makes more sense but I'm more the type to stick with historical fact than follow popular culture.
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Well I admire your spirit on want to stick with facts. Too bad in entertainment business people tend to go the opposite, and sure appreciate being reminded on that.
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she is really awesome and hawt wow!
I love the outfit and the angling too ^.^
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this is so amazing! the coloring, the shading, everything about it is awsome! i love the concept. This needs 10,000 more veiws
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So.. Amazing. *__* The lighting is fantastic, her expression is .. bad-assed (XD) and I absolutely love the details you've added! Wonderful job!
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Not a bad way to die if I get killed by a lady as beautiful as that. As long as the death is quick. hehe.
Lovely colors and wonderful lighting. I love the highlights especially. And her expression.
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Wow! I'm seriously impressed with this piece! The whole picture itself is extremely dynamic! Her look of confidence is threatening, but beautiful to look at. It's scary but cool at the same time. Great work, as usual Eric!
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Finally a piece of art that pays tribute to the female gladiator as a serious seasoned warrior rather than a shallow naked fantasy. I really wish there were more pictures like this on DA.
Truly beautiful work looking forward to the end result.
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Wow, this is beautiful. I love how dreamy it looks.
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Amazing work. *__* Wow.. The details on this.. Amazing
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Personally I think she should just dual wield the Pata, but the piece itself is pretty solid.
I like how everyone is positioned in a hierarchical manner, with the loser on the bottom and I guess Ceaser or whoever on top.
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