GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15:56 Apr 30, 2016 |
French to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / Exhibition notes | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||||
| Selected response from: Charles Davis Spain Local time: 14:21 | ||||||
Grading comment
|
Summary of answers provided | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
3 | classical profile |
|
classical profile Explanation: The French expression is defined for us here: "Profil, tête de médaille. Profil, tête dont les traits ont la régularité et le caractère marqué de ceux des médailles." http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/médaille It's translated here in the Larousse dictionary as "regular features": "avoir un profil de médaille to have very regular features" http://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais-anglais/profil... Maybe you could use that, but it loses the idea of "profile". I think "classical profile" would capture it quite well. On the one hand, the matinee-idol type of star with regular features, high forehead, etc., is often descibed as having "classical good looks" or a "classical profile"; but here I think there's also that element of not just what he looks like but also how he's depicted, with his profile very clearly demarcated, as on a coin or medallion, and since that pose and form of portraiture goes back to classical times, and heads on medals usually hark back to classical models (which is explicit here with the reference to "statues antiques"), I think it's quite suitable. -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 46 mins (2016-04-30 16:43:26 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- This refers to the actor Rupert Everett: "His classical profile, preternaturally smooth brow, elegant bearing and utter lack of expressiveness are assets useful in a Roman statue, much less so in an actor." http://nypost.com/2009/03/16/spirit-willing-flash-weak/ I would almost be tempted to consider "chiselled profile" (chiseled in American spelling): "chiseled 2. sharply or clearly shaped; clear-cut: a finely chiseled profile. Also, esp. Brit., chiselled." http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chiseled -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 49 mins (2016-04-30 16:46:19 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- Another example of the association between "classical profile" and medals/coins: "The medals in The Distribution illustrate Barry's ideas on coinage. The obverse of King Alfred demonstrates a proper relationship between a head and its inscription. This head, in classical profile, grandly fills the space [...]" https://books.google.es/books?id=rIes6hsvVaIC&pg=PA134&lpg=P... |
| |
Grading comment
| ||
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade) |
Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.