Red Face, Green Robe

Viewing notes

A viewer's written impression — not a buyer review or first-hand record

This polychrome warrior stands with a great blade in hand, red-faced and long-bearded, caught with all the momentum of having just turned around. The face is ruddy as a date, eyes wide and glaring, brows inverted, the black beard streaming from the chest and flung to one side; a golden band crowns the high topknot, and behind the shoulder a banner and a spear-tip jut out on the diagonal. Over everything flows a blue-green robe whose wide sleeves are bellied by wind and curling like waves; beneath it, armour of golden scales, a mass of golden flame at the belly, a red sash knotted at the waist with long ends trailing. The lowered right hand grips a great golden blade, its crescent edge planted toward the ground, the steel patterned all over; the left hand is raised before the body, fingers in a sword gesture, as if about to bark an order. He stands on a rock-form plinth mottled with gold. Green robe, red face, gold armour, streaming beard — nothing here will sit still. It belongs facing the door of an entry, a hall or an office: holding the ground, and lifting the spirit.