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| Roman Prisoners of War To Become Slaves. |
A fine body of men with all the hallmarks of AI perfect beauty.
A great picture by 'Gay-Roman-Fantasy'.
However, without the benefit of the title you'd struggle to make out the meaning of this picture. It looks like men filing through a welcoming committee. The artist has managed to generate an interaction between two of the characters, which isn't easy with present AI tools - it seems to be a consoling, 'well done' or 'be strong' handshake/fist bump as the defeated captives gather. But if these are POW's, there don't seem to be any guards or escorts, just a couple of spectators on the left, maybe one half hidden on the right. There's quite a commotion going on behind them but it doesn't seem to be directly linked to them. This is not the artist's fault, necessarily, AI tools grant limited control to them and do whatever they want to do most of the time. Which I suppose is the most chilling sign of intelligence imaginable.
I just want to ask where the auction is and what time it starts!
See also Defeated Romans Enslaved
or search the mitchmen blog on 'Roman'
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| At The Market |
This is a nice, sexy image, but again it isn't obvious that this is a market. I love the loincloths but how come everyone is nearly naked and dressed the same? Where are the guards? The market traders?
It's reminiscent of those Hollywood movies where the top gangster, arrogantly strolling through his domain is disrupted by a young upstart who gets in his way. As his minions look on, reflecting his menace, the gangster looks the newcomer up and down, perhaps bandies words with him, then moves on. The absence of contact between the figures makes for a rather loose composition, but it helps create a sense of hovering menace in my imaginary scenario.
This doesn't look like Ancient Rome Toto! No Togas and dubious architecture.
To be fair though, it does say Roman 'Fantasy'.
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| Cruising |
Another great image with another hunk arrogantly strutting his stuff. I suppose his up-market loin cloth and belt are symbolic of wealth and status compared with the wretches around him. We probably all know a street or two like this, though rarely with crowds of men quite as wonderfully undressed as this - or standing without drinks. The scene does appear to be a market, fruit on the left, bananas on the right but there isn't much trade going on and why is everyone walking in the same direction?
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| Mercy or Not? |
This is closer to what you would expect in a Roman fantasy. An attacker has been disarmed and blood has been shed. He kneels defenceless but uncowed. There's a significant disparity of dress between the two protagonists, perhaps the loser has just been forced to take off his armour by the victor.
However, why they were fighting in the first place is a mystery. This isn't an Arena. There is a watching crowd but they are dressed like an ill-disciplined army, who have just arrived after a long march. Perhaps this man was the only citizen prepared to make a stand against them, but on the other hand perhaps he was just a (not very good) sneak thief. The juxtaposition of knife point and nose looks very odd, a good example of AI's inability to replicate human judgement which would adjust this detail.
An amazing image nevertheless
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| Young Soldier at Sunrise (41) |
AI is very good at creating portraits of hunks who are the height of perfection and although this man would be near the top of most lust-lists there is something about him that is different, he has character. He's not looking directly at us or courting our admiration. Instead his expression suggests he thinking about something important. Something he must do on this new day, brought closer by the rising sun.
(His armoured 'pouch' with subtle contours glimpsed underneath is very sexy).
I like this picture.
If you follow the link to Gay-Roman-Fantasy at Deviant Art you'll find lots of images like this on Roman themes - battles, gladiators, bath houses etc. And I mean lots, you may end up with indigestion.