|
A pointing machine is a measuring tool used by stone sculptors and woodcarvers to accurately copy plaster, clay or wax sculpture models into wood or stone. In essence the device is a pointing needle that can be set to any position and then fixed. It further consists of brass or stainless steel rods and joints which can be placed into any position and then tightened. It is not actually a machine; its name is derived from the Italian ''macchinetta di punta''. The invention of the tool has been ascribed to both the French sculptor and medallist Nicolas-Marie Gatteaux (1751–1832)〔Cami Santamera: Sculpture In Stone, Barrons Educational Series Inc, 2001/10/01, ISBN 0-7641-5424-9〕〔(Biography of Gatteaux ) (French)〕〔(on Gatteaux' invention of the pointing machine ) (French)〕 and to the British sculptor John Bacon〔 which in turn cites Richard Cecil, ''Memoirs of John Bacon, R.A.'' (London, 1801) and J. Pratt, ed., R. Cecil's works, vol. i (1811)〕 (1740 - 1799). It was later perfected by Canova.〔(Putman, Brenda, ‘’The Sculptor’s Way: A Guide to Modelling and Sculpture’’ ), ''Stone and Marble Carving'' by Robert A. Baillie, Farrar & Rinehart, Inc, New York, 1939, p. 305〕 == Use == The pointing machine is used for making one-to-one copies of existing sculptures and to reproduce models made of plaster, modeling clay or modeling wax in materials like stone or wood. It is not possible to use a pointing machine to produce enlarged or reduced copies; the traditional instruments for this are a set of calipers or a three-dimensional version of the pantograph.〔(A video on the use of such a pantograph )〕 However, there is also a special version of the pointing machine that was used for mirroring, enlargements or reduced carving. 〔(A video on the use of a special pointing machine, from the workshop of Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers (Dutch subtitles) )〕 To better control the end result of the finished sculpture, sculptors have increasingly taken to making a detailed model and then reproducing it, on the same scale or enlarged, in stone. Particularly in the 19th century, sculptors would follow a specific procedure: first a wax or clay model was made, of which a plaster cast was taken, which in its turn served as the model to be copied in stone with the use of calipers or a pointing machine.〔''"In modern times the sculptor makes a clay model from which he makes a plaster cast. The important projections and depressions are marked in this cast by metal pins, called points, and an ingenious device called the pointing machine makes it possible to mark the corresponding points in the block of marble. The marble is then cut away to all the points marked. The number of such points may be very great, in which case the statue is nearly finished when all the points are reached. In fact, many sculptors of modern times are merely modellers. They send their models to the stone-cutter, who, with the help of the pointing machine and other contrivances, makes an accurate copy. The more careful sculptors add the finishing touches themselves, but very few do any great amount of chiselling."'' The Technique of Sculpture, William Ordway Partridge, p.91-94〕 This is called the indirect method of carving. The advantages of this method are that the end result is very controllable and that the chance of making irreparable mistakes is reduced drastically. In addition, the process is much faster when carving difficult sculptures, because the search for the right shape is done during the modelling process instead of during the carving itself, thus making it much easier to adjust it or make changes. Finally, using this method, much or all of the work can be done by assistant sculptors, increasing productivity. The disadvantages of using the pointing machine are a great loss of directness and the risk of loss of expression. Famous sculptors increasingly tended to use assistants. Sometimes a sculptor would run a large workshop with dozens of assistants and pupils. Art academies were formed where the skills of sculpture were taught in detail. The consequence of this development was the generation of 'academy art', from which some sculptors wanted to distance themselves. Sculptors eventually returned to more direct forms of expression, by means of for example the 'direct carving method', impressionism and expressionism. This was sometimes influenced by the indigenous art of Africa and Oceania, which brought about a shock because of its directness and raw expression. The pointing machine's popularity waned as a result, reflecting the diminishing knowledge and skills of carving in wood and stone during the 20th century. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pointing machine」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|