Description
Immortal Faces
Book Summary
This essay explores the fascinating history of death masks, from ancient Egypt to the 19th century in Europe. Through the pioneering study of Ernst Benkard, the work reveals how these objects, rather than being mere funerary molds, are powerful visual testimonies that stop the time of death and initiate a new cycle for memory. The reader will discover the artistic, historical, and emotional value of these pieces that capture the real and undeniable face of immortal figures.
What is it about?
The book starts with the phenomenon of the death masks that proliferated in the 19th century, when the faces of the most prominent personalities of the era were preserved. Benkard, in his 1926 work, was the first to spark serious academic interest in the subject, demonstrating that this practice was not exclusive to the 1800s, but dated back at least to ancient Egypt. The work analyzes how these pieces, made of plaster or wax, possess a unique visual power: they show the dead, undeniable face of death. Beyond being a simple representation of the deceased, the mask stops the natural process of the corpse and inaugurates a new time for the recollection and memory of their carnal presence. The text combines art history, philosophical reflection, and aesthetic analysis to understand the significance of these objects that have fascinated collectors, artists, and scholars.
Main Topics
- History of death masks from Antiquity to the 20th century.
- The artistic and documentary value of posthumous portraits in plaster and wax.
- The relationship between death, memory, and visual representation.
- The collecting of funerary objects and their academic study.
- The figure of Ernst Benkard as a pioneer in research on the subject.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in art history, especially in representations of death and portraiture. It will also be of great interest to collectors of antiques, scholars of 19th-century visual culture, and people drawn to the biographies and true stories that hide behind these objects. It is an ideal work for those looking for a serious and documented approach to a little-discussed topic that holds great aesthetic and emotional power.
What this book offers
- A complete and documented vision of the phenomenon of death masks in art history.
- Access to the pioneering research of Ernst Benkard, key to understanding the academic interest in these pieces.
- A deep reflection on the meaning of death, memory, and image in different eras.
- A visual and aesthetic analysis of objects that combine art, history, and emotion.
- Historical and cultural context on 19th-century collecting and its funerary practices.
Technical Specifications
- Author: ERNST BENKARD AND GORKA LÓPEZ
- Publisher: ASOCIACION CULTURAL SANS SOLEIL II
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: ARTS, ART HISTORY AND DESIGN STYLES: C. 1900, PORTRAITS REPRESENTED IN ART, BIOGRAPHY AND TRUE STORIES, BIOGRAPHY: GENERAL, DIARIES, LETTERS AND LOGBOOKS, COLLECTION OF BIOGRAPHIES, MEMOIRS, TRUE STORIES, ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES
- Collection: PIGMALION
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: September 2013
- Number of pages: 244
- Weight: 450 g
Editorial Review
Immortal Faces is a reference work for those who wish to delve into the study of death masks from an artistic and historical perspective. The combination of Benkard's original work with contemporary analysis offers the reader a rigorous and fascinating vision of a subject that connects art, death, and memory. Its academic approach and careful edition make it an essential read for specialists and enthusiasts of art history and collecting.