Due to the complexity of the Antony Group, this whole sub assembly was completed as a project in itself. A mattress for the settee was made from putty. This was epoxied to the settee frame to create a solid platform. The settee arms and legs were made from wooden ship railings and plastic strips (Fig 7).
The figures have to be partially attached to each other to determine the poses. I started with Antony and the Roman soldier holding his head up. A wire was drilled and inserted into the right shoulder of Antony which mated with the left thigh of the Roman soldier. The legs of Antony were pressed down to rest on the right hand of the Egyptian servant kneeling at his feet. Once I was satisfied with the position, a drop of superglue sealed the wire joint.
Further support was created between the Roman soldier and Antony by wire inserts to the right and left hands supporting Antony. Except for this fixed pair, all the other figures were attached only temporarily to each other with wire inserts at this stage for further adjustment of poses and final detailed painting of separate figures before final assembly.
There are two hoists made from clothing in the painting - the white one being held up by a helmeted soldier and the red one being attached with ropes. Wire inserts were used as structural supports for the hoists.
The Antony-soldier pair and the kneeling Egyptian servants were pinned to the settee to fix their positions. The legs of the Nubian slave were adjusted to straddle the bed and the ground. Then the arms were adjusted to support Antony. The pillows were made from putty. The cloth sheet of putty was draped onto the settee and then sculpted in several stages. The spears were added and tied to the settee arms. The settee was sprayed in matt undercoat. The settee was now fully painted (Fig 8).
There are two hoists made from clothing in the painting - the white one being held up by a helmeted soldier and the red one being attached with ropes. Wire inserts were used as structural supports for the hoists.
The Antony-soldier pair and the kneeling Egyptian servants were pinned to the settee to fix their positions. The legs of the Nubian slave were adjusted to straddle the bed and the ground. Then the arms were adjusted to support Antony. The pillows were made from putty. The cloth sheet of putty was draped onto the settee and then sculpted in several stages. The spears were added and tied to the settee arms. The settee was sprayed in matt undercoat. The settee was now fully painted (Fig 8).
Fig 7. Legs and railings were added to the settee. The height of the settee had to be finalized to adjust the hoist positions. Figures were pinned onto the settee to fix their positions for readjustment of poses.
Fig 8. Construction of the settee. a – details added with pillows, drapery and spear handles; b - sprayed with matt undercoat; c – fully painted.
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