Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Vytautas on May 10, 2012 at 9:08pm

Well, most Greek sculpture survives from Roman copies. This definitely looks more classical in style, 5-4c as opposed to more Hellenistic 4-2c BC.

Permalink Reply by Vytautas on May 15, 2012 at 12:45pm

Another Hercules, this one in the archaeological museum in Naples. Plus gratuitous butt shot, holding the golden apples!

Permalink Reply by The Original Cody on May 29, 2012 at 10:20pm

just had to show up Will with your bigger more muscular herakles....

Permalink Reply by Vytautas on May 30, 2012 at 12:19pm

It's a dick-swinging statue contest- bigger is better!

Permalink Reply by Sean on May 31, 2012 at 11:28pm

Except Herakles is almost always shown with a small penis in ancient greek art. 

Permalink Reply by The Original Cody on May 11, 2012 at 3:22pm

 

Possibly my Favourite Greek sculpture (Roman copy), The Boxer of Quirinal (or Terme Boxer). It is from about 330 B.C.E. and currently resides in the National Museum of Rome.

 

 

This sculpture just makes me ask so many questions... did he just suffer a great defeat... was he victorious but badly hurt in the process? I like to think that he was victorious in a great battle... and they are calling him up for his next match.

Permalink Reply by Sean on May 11, 2012 at 3:40pm

Excellent choice.

Permalink Reply by Sean on June 1, 2012 at 12:44pm

I've come back and looked at these pictures a few times since you first posted them, and I too wonder what is going on.  At whom is he looking?  Is he about to speak, and what would he say?  Would he tell of his great battles of the past, the legends with whom he stood toe to toe, neither giving an inch?  His victiories and defeats?  Could he tell from whence he got each scar?  Or is he a battered hulk, a Spinks or a Duran or a Cooney, unable to string together a sentence, and forever mumbling incomprehensibly having taken too many blows? Are his best days behind him, and he is on his way out, or is he drawing up for one last battle, to remind his opponents of who he was, and who he is still? 

Permalink Reply by Sean on May 11, 2012 at 3:39pm

Excellent thread. 

 

My favourite Greek art/roman copies would include the Loacoon group, but even better for me is  The Dying Gaul

 

 

I also like the statues they did that were not of the gods or heroes but of everyday life, like the drunken old woman.

 

Permalink Reply by The Original Cody on May 11, 2012 at 4:58pm

ya... they got obsessed with "real" people during the Hellenistic era.

Permalink Reply by Vytautas on May 15, 2012 at 3:42pm

These are really great pieces that amaze with their technical skill and pathos.

Permalink Reply by Vytautas on May 11, 2012 at 9:39pm

Those are still awesome statue groups, much of it obviously influenced by Greek ideas and techniques inflected through Rome. The musculature of the upper body seems so very Greek, although they left out the heroic nudity. The gravity of the body is perfectly balanced by the fluidity and levity of the garment. Absolutely beautiful.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page