This is my hell

【  https://forms.gle/ttRtZSv6qzAQ3gBMA 】 the link again!

There isn't really a singular time period that ties all the backgrounds that we've seen in the game. Mostly they reminded me of two different artistic styles, on one side the Gothic Period (started in the XII century but it remained in use some centuries after because only Italy had the Renaissance, meaning that the other European countries continued reproducing the same art they knew) and on the other Baroque (XVII to XVIII).

Firstly, tho, I should explain how I see Hades as a kingdom: the game itself tells us that it's really gloomy and dark, as we can also see it through the way citizens interact, describing them as more aloof, not even trusting one another. This idea grows even more if we contrast it with kingdoms like Gehenna or Abyssos. So I thought that maybe the architecture and interior design could represent that darkness and alusion.

Therefore, at first I associated it to the gothic period. I do have to confess that, this association is also rooted in a bit of missinformation(?, because I did have the knowledge that the cathedrals were filled with color from both the stained glass and the painted walls, but since I have seen too many of these buildings being darkended with smoke and time, I couldn't help but still associate it with the "dark mysterious" vibe :').

Here is a bit of art history lesson for ya☝️🤓! Most of the gothic architecture is based on 2 things: a) this one guy (who I don't remember his name) wrote on how in order to honor God, they should treat and build cathedrals as the one portal that connects heaven and Earth, needing to reflect the beauty of the heavens, so they started using things like stained glass to make cathedrals truly feel like a portal. On the other side, b) This was possible because architects started understanding how to make buildings more light through supports like spines and flying buttresses!

Also, we can see examples of gothic attributes being used in the slop images. One of them being the columns, which are the same ones we find in the gothic time period (see the collection of reference pictures at the top), this again, were also made to form these beautiful pointed arches. The other example we found is the simplicity of MC's room, there is not a touch of gold that we can see in some of the other images, also, the furniture is fully made with wood, as we also find with this era's rooms.

As we have established, this style's beauty comes from gorgeous because of its simplicity; it doesn't need opulence; instead, it uses its own architecture. Just like Leviathan himself, he doesn't need all the gold and expensive clothes because he himself is enough. But here is the twist, he doesn't need it but that doesn't mean that he won't use it, anything to show off the castle and himself. Here is why I mixed both periods, because it's not like he would fill his walls with gold and decorations and opulence; rather, he could still enjoy them, because he has the power to do so!

So here is where the baroque intervenes: stylizing the furniture and adding little gold details, still keeping it much, much lighter than its real counterpart that is disgustingly (affectionate) rich. Then again, we can see the use of Baroque architecture mostly in the background of Levi's full illustrations, so maybe this is what PB wanted from the start.

Actually, I'm not that satisfied with this drawing, but it was driving me crazy, so maybe in the future I'll redraw it but also seeing as it's my first time drawing and doing something like this I believe it's ok for the moment.

Little disclaimer english is not my first language and also I learned all of this in my native language so if some terms are wrong I apologize.

Also If you want to send me your ideas for the next room or if you have any character you would like me to draw my asks are open!

My comms are open btw ;)!

TLDR:

Hades uses a simpler approach to beauty; it uses its own architecture and has no need for opulence and extravagance to reflect that (as we see with Gothic period architecture). But the thing is that Hades/Leviathan will still use gold and ornaments (as we see in Baroque) because he can and he has it at his disposal; he is a king after all, so he can and will show off. It will just be will just be more simple and muted, in smaller details.