Artwork of the day

The Kritios Boy, c. 480 BC, marble, the Acropolis Museum, Athens

Most place it at the end of the archaic period, others in the early classical. The Kritios Boy most likely named after his sculptor Kritias, was found on the Acropolis in Athens in the early 5^th century BC where it was placed before or after the Persian Wars. The statue is not preserved in tact as parts of the right leg and hands are missing. His eyes are also missing because they were inlaid.

The Kritios Boy marks a turning point in Greek sculpture. Smaller than lifesize, the beautiful marble statue represents a calm young boy standing with the weight distributed to the right knee, while the left is bended (like a human stance). The weight distribution results in a most naturalistic form called the “contrapposto” (a pre-occupation of most greek artists).

Although the Kritios Boy is a frontal figure, he is depicted in a relaxed attitude with his muscles softened in a much more humanlike form and a life-like accuracy. The introduction of a new hairstyle and the missing of the “archaic smile” now replaced with the austere expression of the “Severe Style” characterized the transitional period from the Archaic to the Classical era.

Today's artwork of the day is a generous contribution of Eleftheria Pavli, BA, MA

Picture from: http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/lecture_med_civ.htm

Artwork of the day

The Diadoumenos, 1^st c. AD Roman copy of a c 430 Greek original. Marble, National Archaeological Museum, Athens     

‘The Diadoumenos’ belongs to the so-called High Classical period of the 5^th century BC and demonstrates all the ‘qualities’ of the style: it shows the beauty of the ideal male nude, it has clear boundaries, a main frontal viewpoint, while its surfaces have been polished similarly to give the eye a sense of a homogeneous effect.

It is believed that the original Greek bronze was a work of the sculptor Polykleitos -one of the few artists whose name has survived in modern time- who was greatly admired for his skill. His statues have been prototypes for many other classical works both Greek and Roman and he is credited with the creation of basic characteristics of the so called Canon with the ideals for symmetry and beauty.

The Diadoumenos represents a young athlete just after his victory. Originally, the bronze, would probably be placed in a sanctuary, most likely to commemorate a victory.

Sources used for this post:

Statue of Diadoumenos [Roman copy of a Greek bronze statue by Polykleitos] (25.78.56) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Artwork of the day

The Lady of Auxerre,  c. 640 BC, limestone, Louvre, Paris

The most famous example of the Daedalic style, the Lady of Auxerre, probably of Cretan origin, dates from 640 BC the period of Greek art traditionally called orientalising. The statue combines a mixture of different Eastern traditions with Greek elements. The female figure is dressed in a stylised cloth which ends at a long skirt decorated with almost geometric designs. Her hand is placed on her breast, a probable imitation of the Astarte figure or a sign of adoration. Her hair and face are reminiscent of Egyptian statues.

In sculpture the orientalising elements changed the rendering of the human figure and face. While in geometric statuettes the human anatomy and facial characteristics received minimum –almost non existent- attention, 7^th century pieces are characterised by exaggerated features, especially when one looks at the eyes, the nose and the carefully rendered hair. Bronze nude warrior-gods common in Syria and the Hittite empire were adopted by Greek artists. In female statues, the nude goddess Astarte was soon replaced by a dressed Greek counterpart representing Aphrodite, a move that lead to the introduction of the so-called daedalic style. In sculpture too the Egyptian influence must have been catalytic. Probably inspired by Egyptian prototypes, Greek artists gradually started creating statues from more luxurious and lasting material, in particular bronze, limestone and later marble, while the size of these artworks gradually increased to over life size pieces.

Artwork of the day

The Lion Gate, Mycenae (Greece), c  1250 BC

The entrance to the prehistoric citadel of Mycenae -the seat of the legendary king Agamemnon- the Lion Gate is one of the most famous remnants of the Mycenaean civilisation that flourished between c 1600 to 1100 BC. Situated in the district of Argolid, the Acropolis of Mycenae was constructed on a hill of 278 meters.