Marvel Masterpieces: Classical art comes to life with modern superheroes
By Hannah Stevens @Hannahshewans
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VFX and motion graphics composer David Cubero used his love of toys to reimagine Marvel characters as the subjects of famous paintings, including Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man and Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam.
He said: “I have collected all kinds of action figures since I was a kid. A few years ago I started shooting pictures of my toys in order to get a reference posing guide for drawing my own comic books.
“Later I realised I had a ton of pictures of toys doing funny things and thought I had to do something with that!”
Despite the careful set up and editing work, Cubero says the work was not too difficult to create and the insatiable toy collector has now acquired many new fans after sharing his creations on social media.
However, he admitted that The Creation of Adam had some obstacles, as making Tony Stark look real and natural amongst the Iron Man suits proved to be challenging.
The Barcelona native said: “I don’t consider myself a photographer, I’m a composer of images. Most of my pictures are made in pieces and with photoshop effects.
“So I use every tool I have around me. Sometimes an iPhone, sometimes the screen of a laptop to create a coloured light or sometimes a high end camera to get big print size if it’s necessary.”
Of all his creations David has one particular favourite - his recreation of Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Cellini, which he has reimagined with Captain America standing proudly over Iron Man’s remains as he holds his mask aloft as a trophy.
The 40-year-old said: “I have been an admirer of this statue by Cellini since I was a child. Every time I’ve been to Firenze, the first thing I have done is visit it.”
Other portraits include Captain America crouching as he emulates The Discobolus of Myron - circa 460-450BC - and Iron Man holding court at Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
In another portrait Iron Man perches thoughtfully as Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker, while an Iron Man suit cradles the body of Tony Stark in Michelangelo’s Pietà.
Although David has a far-reaching love of superheroes, he has one particular favourite - the beloved Iron Man.
He said: “I love Iron Man’s face because it’s made of three horizontal lines that are completely expressionless, so for me it’s perfect, he can say anything and you believe it!”