Prescribed Early and High Classical Free-Standing Sculpture Not-So-Key Facts

Delphic Charioteer, Artemision Zeus, Myron's Diskobolos, Polykleitos' Doryphoros, Aphrodite of the Agora

Why was the Delphic Charioteer created?

as a votive to Apollo, to commemorate Polyzalos of Gela’s chariot team’s victory at the Pythian Games

What is the name of the specialised charioteer’s garment worn by the Delphic Charioteer?

xystis

What was the Delphic Charioteer made as part of?

a group composition

What are the Delphic Charioteer’s inlaid eyes made of?

onyx and glass

What technique was used to create details of hair in classical bronze statues?

cold-work

What is important about the limbs of the Artemision Zeus?

they are all posed in contrast, which suggests movement and narrative

What is important about the feet of the Artemision Zeus?

the back foot is slightly lifted, elevating the narrative and showing the skill and understanding of the sculptor

How is character created in the Artemision Zeus?

the beard creates age differentiation, and the cold expression of anger shows divine rage

What is the main inaccuracy in the Artemision Zeus?

the pectoral does not respond to the action pose

Why is the Artemision Zeus’ lost prop important?

it would confirm the character depicted

Why has the medium of bronze been chosen for the Artemision Zeus?

it would have been impossible to create it in marble, due to its low tensile strength

Who was Myron?

a renowned Athenian bronze sculptor

What was Myron known for?

his ability to convey movement

What is Diskobolos’ pose composed of?

several intersecting curves

What previously neglected muscles are highlighted in Diskobolos?

intercostal muscles

Who was Polykleitos?

a leading Athenian High Classical sculptor

What was the Canon?

a treatise on making statues beautiful, as defined with mathematical ratios

Why did Polykleitos create Doryphoros?

to exemplify the ideas presented in Canon

What pose technique does Doryphoros exemplify?

contrapposto

What line does Doryphoros display?

a Polykleitian s-curve

Is Doryphoros’ musculature realistic?

yes, though the iliac crest borders on over exaggeration

Did Doryphoros depict a common narrative?

yes, spear-bearers were a regular sight in Ancient Greece

What is catenary?

u-shaped curves formed by an idealised piece of fabric suspended between two points

What is the wet drapery technique?

carving figures as if nude, save for narrow ridges of stone protruding to suggest thin cloth

What are modelling lines?

broad, curved ridges of stone which allude to the underlying forms of the body

What are motion lines?

using sweeping lines and ridges to suggest a captured moment of motion

Where was Aphrodite of the Agora found?

at the Athenian Agora

Which writer described seeing Aphrodite statues, and where?

Pausanias, in the Sanctuary of Ares at the Athenian Agora

What drapery technique makes Aphrodite of the Agora's navel visible?

wet drapery technique

What drapery techniques are affecting Aphrodite of the Agora's himation?

modelling lines and motion lines

What line does Aphrodite of the Agora display?

Polykleitian s-curve

What is Aphrodite of the Agora wearing?

chiton and himaton