The Doyphoros is a magnificent sculpture dating back to around the 1st century B. It is a Roman copy of the original Greek bronze sculpture that was created around 450 B.C.E. The MIA's copy is the finest of all the five known copies. These roman copies are the only visual documentation available to us because many of the original sculptures were melted in times of warfare to make weapons. .
Representing an athlete, the Doyphoros" balanced figure and idealized proportions gives it an overall harmonious feel, very typical of art from the Classical Greek period. The Doryphoros exemplifies polykleitos's rule of ideal proportions. The statue keeps a perfect balance between relaxation and tension. His stance is contrapposto with the majority of his weight on his right leg, which was once balanced by a spear held in his left hand. The original Doryphoros was one of the earliest statues to be shown in the fully developed contraposto position. .
Polykleitos of Argos was a well-known sculptor and art theorist. His aim in sculpting was to produce the perfect human figure using a mathematical equation to sculpt the body parts. It is believed that he used a basic unit ratio to measure the body parts. He set down his theory on the human in a treatise known as "The Canon" and created a larger than life size sculpture he named "Doryphoros". Unfortunately nobody knows exactly what that unit of measurement was because neither his treatise nor his statue survived the centuries. .
During the Classical era the Greeks sought to encourage both body and mind. At festivals such as the Olympic games, prizes were awarded not only to the best athletes, but also to the best poets, orators, dancers, and musicians. The search for ideal beauty and balance made itself visible in all areas of life including the visual arts. Because the Doryphoros completely embodies these ideals, it has remained, over time, the primary image of Classical Greece.
Art History #1 2. Discuss the continuity versus change in Greek art. Choose themes/styles/etc. that are prevalent in a variety of artworks and sacred spaces to support your viewpoint. Greek art influenced and shaped art in a way unmatched by any other civilization in the West. With that being...
