Early Classical period prescribed statues

The Delphic Charioteer

Height? Date? Material? Location?

• Height: 1.80m

• Date: Either 478 or 474 BC

• Material: Multi-media hollow bronze statue→copper (lips, eyelashes), silver (teeth, fillet) and onyx for the eyes

• Location: Part of a votive offering at the Panhellenic sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, now located in the museum of Delphi

The Delphic Charioteer

Contextual Knowledge → Why was it erected?

It is a votive statue offered at the Panhellenic sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. It was dedicated after a victory at the Pythian games by a tyrant called Polyzalos of Gela. The inscription on the base of the statue reads

‘Polyzaos dedicated me. … Make him prosper, honoured Apollo’

How was Chariot racing significant in Ancient Greece?

By the archaic and classical periods, chariot races were a prominent part of Olympic games and Pythian games at Delphi with purpose built hippodromes. It gained you kleos and time (honour) and was a display of arete.

The Delphic Charioteer

What makes the Delphic Charioteer aesthetically pleasing? (give 5 points with examples)

• The sculptors use of multi-media seen in the use of copper for the eyelashes and lips and the use of silver in the fillet and onyx and black agate in the in-laid eyes and of course bronze for the rest of the statue. This shows the sculptors techne through their ability to work with multiple mediums and also their wealth

• It is a display of piety as a votive statue to Apollo e.g. the inscription

• It displays a clear narrative through the group composition and the reins and the fillet (a symbol of victory)

• The concentrated and almost severe style facial expression gives a sense of realism and narrative e.g. pursued full lips, heavy chin, oval face, alert and attentive eyes and also the rigid posture

• fluting and curvilinear features seen in the upper drapery and deep folds created by the cross brace on the back

The Delphic Charioteer

What makes him less aesthetically pleasing?

• The fluting of the lower drapery gives no sense of anatomy beneath the xystis and makes the legs appear extremely elongated giving it a lack of realism. However in the whole group composition this part of the body would have been hidden.

• The contrast between the light and crinkled folds of the upper torso’s drapery and the heavy drapery below the waist gives a sense on inconsistency and makes them seem like they are made from different materials

• The rigid asymmetric action pose seems restrained and primitive like the archaic statues. There is a slight twist and the waist and turn of the head to the right but it offers barely any movement or realism

• The lack of emotion in the facial expression ‘severe style’

The Delphic Charioteer

How is the Delphic Charioteer more advanced than earlier archaic statues?

• He is clothed and has more complex drapery

• There is no archaic smile

• He is made from bronze and also has multi-media

• He is part of a group composition and has props

• Age is conveyed more through the youthful curls and full face

• Less focus on displaying an ideal and more on the narrative

• Realism

• Movement in pose

• More free standing- no plinth or hair support

The Delphic Charioteer

What parts of the statue show remnants of archaic features?

• The planted feet

• The Geometric patterns used in the silver fillet

The Delphic Charioteer

Scholar Quotes

Richard Neer: ‘He had been flagrantly inconsistent in rendering the chiton (xystis)’

Barringer: ‘He appears alert and attentive’

The Artemision Zeus

Height? Date? Material? Location?

• Height: 2.09m

• Date: c.460-450 BC

• Material: Hollow Bronze statue with copper lips and nipples and ivory/bone inlaid eyes and on the eyebrows

• Location: It was found in the sea off Cape Artemisium and is now located in the national archaeological museum in Athens, Greece

The Artemision Zeus

What is debate about his missing prop?

In the flexed bent throwing arm his hand is held in a wide grasp. People debate whether he was Zeus holding a thunderbolt or Poseidon wielding his trident.

The Artemision Zeus

What makes him aesthetically pleasing? (5 points)

• The cold work seen in his beard and parted fringe are particularly detailed and intricate. This is a great display of the sculptors techne and gives the sculpture and more naturalistic and impressive look.

• The dynamic and daring pose portrays a narrative of a figure caught in movement. It shows the unfolding of time and displays the narrative of a man or god about to throw something. e.g. the out-stretched aiming arm and the flexed throwing arm

• The triangles formed by the pose create a symmetrically pleasing look

• Nudity and the size of 2.09m makes him feel impressive and shows his strength and arete

• Use of multimedia

The Artemision Zeus

What makes him less aesthetically pleasing?

• He is not made for in the round viewing as he looks incredible from the front and back but is less powerful and effective from the side views

• The torso does not react to the out-stretched action limbs → not realistic

• Severe emotionless facial expression

The Artemision Zeus

What features of the early classical period does he show? How has he advanced from the archaic period?

• Use of bronze and multi-media

• Severe style facial expression e.g. pursued lips, determined inlaid eyes locked on target, furrowed brows

• Facial hair and the use of cold work show age differentiation

• Dynamic action pose

• Missing prop

• No archaic smile

The Artemision Zeus

Scholar Quotes

• Boardman: ‘vigorously threatening and static in its perfect balance’

• Neer: ‘The Artemision sculptor has elongated the left arm to nearly simian length’

Myron’s Diskobolos

Height? Date? Material? Location?

• Height: 1.55M

• Date: Greek original, 460-450 BC

• Material: Roman marble copy of the original bronze

• Location: British Museum

Myron’s Diskobolos

What makes him aesthetically pleasing?

• Didactic pose: message of arete and techne→ideal male athletic physique, dynamic skillful pose

• Extended arms vs flexed legs

• Contrasting shapes: arcs of extended arms vs zig zags of back and back flexed legs

• Rich relatable narrative conveying the tension of the athlete before he releases the discus →the use of the discus as a prop, asymmetric action pose, serene and severe facial expression

• Message of Kinesis→right planted foot, dragging left toes and raised left foot, arc of back and hips, flexed aiming arm and asymmetric throwing arm, turned head→captures imminent movement

Myron’s Diskobolos

What makes him less aesthetically pleasing?

• Designed only for frontal view but is in the round→the side view is not visually effective

• The torso does not fully react to the action limbs and there is no real strain within the body which is highly unrealistic

Myron’s Diskobolos

Scholar Quotes

• Boardman: ‘The figure is cut in one plane for a single view point’

• Woodford: ‘new aesthetic’ ‘curved versus straight’ ‘smooth versus angular’