Epic By NicolasRGiacondino Watch

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(...)For close to two hundred years, the Emperor, beloved by all, had led the Great Crusade from the front, fighting in the vanguard of humanity’s second expansion to the edges of the galaxy.



Those days were over, for the Emperor had announced his withdrawal from the fighting, telling his faithful warriors that the time had come for him to relinquish control of the Crusade to another. The Astartes had wept to hear that their beloved master was leaving them, but as epochal as this separation was, it was more than matched by the Emperor’s next pronouncement.



Before the gathered warriors, the Emperor removed the golden laurels that had been his most iconic accoutrement and bestowed them upon his brightest son. No longer would the Emperor command the armies of the Imperium. That honour, now fell to Horus Lupercal: The Warmaster.



It was an old title, revived from dusty antiquity, yet it was a natural fit and perfectly encapsulated the unique qualities of the Luna Wolves Primarch. From the millions of warriors gathered before the steel-sheened dais, adulation had mixed with sorrow, but Ahriman had felt the conflicting waves of powerful emotions as the other primarchs reacted to Horus’ ascension. Perhaps they felt it should have been them, or perhaps they raged at having to take orders from one of their own.



Either way, it made little difference. The decision had been made, and the Emperor was unequivocal in its necessity. Many warriors had expected to renew old acquaintances or swear new bonds of brotherhood on Ullanor, but with the Emperor’s pronouncements made, the garnering of Astartes broke up with almost unseemly haste.(...)



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This is the fragment from Graham McNeill's Thousand Sons the client sent me as the basis of his requested illustration. You can imagine my surprise...



This is, without a doubt, the most complex, detailed, big and exhausting work I've ever done to date.

Featuring The Emperor, Horus and another eight of his brothers, all present for his crowning as Warmaster on the plains of Ullanor in this image was a daunting and time cosuming project. But I think I've made some justice to the scene. Or at least I hope so.



There are ltsof details that Ilike abut this illustration; but I think my favourite is the actual crowning of Horus by The Emperor. Even wih all those Legins and fellow Primarchs around them, they seem to be lost into each other's gaze, perhaps wondering what will come out of this mighty announcement.



I hope you enjoy this 5-days-of-work straight image and let me know what you think.



Nic.-



PS.. Hit dowload to get a better view of the details.



© Games Workshop Ltd. 2011

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Published : May 17, 2011