Ancient sculptors of Ancient Greece: names. Art of ancient greece Ancient Greek sculptor 4 letters

New demands began to be made to sculpture. If in the previous period it was considered necessary to create an abstract embodiment of certain physical and mental qualities, an average image, now the sculptors showed attention to a specific person, his individuality. The greatest success in this was achieved by Scopas, Praxiteles, Lysippus, Timothy, Briaxides. There was a search for means to convey the shades of the movement of the soul, mood. One of them is represented by Skopas, a native of Fr. Paros, whose works amazed contemporaries with their drama and the embodiment of the most complex range of human feelings. Destroying the former ideal, the harmony of the whole, Scopas preferred to depict people and gods in moments of passion. Another, lyrical direction was reflected in his art by Praxiteles, a younger contemporary of Skopas. The statues of his work were distinguished by harmony and poetry, refinement of mood. According to the connoisseur and connoisseur of the beautiful Pliny the Elder, Aphrodite of Knidos was especially popular. To admire this statue, many took a trip to Knidos. The Cnidians rejected all offers to buy her, even at the cost of cassating their huge debts. The beauty and spirituality of man are also embodied by Praxiteles in the figures of Artemis and Hermes with Dionysus. The desire to show the diversity of characters was characteristic of Lysippus. Pliny the Elder believed that the main, most successful work of the master is the statue of Apoxyomenes, an athlete with a strigil (scraper). The cutter of Lysippus also owned "Eros with a bow", "Hercules fighting a lion". Subsequently, the sculptor became the court painter of Alexander the Great and sculpted several of his portraits. The name of the Athenian Leochar is associated with two textbook works: "Apollo Belvedere" and "Ganymede, abducted by an eagle." The sophistication and showiness of Apollo led to the admiration of Renaissance artists, who considered him the standard of classical style. Their opinion was then reinforced by the authority of the neoclassical theorist J. Winkelmann. However, in the XX century. art historians ceased to share the enthusiasm of their predecessors, finding in Leohar such shortcomings as theatricality and polishedness.

In this art form, the Greeks achieved the greatest success. Sculpture distinguished by the perfection of forms and idealism. Marble, bronze, wood were used as materials, or mixed (elephantine) technique was used: a figure was made of wood, and covered with thin gold plates, the face and hands were made on ivory.

The types of sculpture are varied: relief (flat sculpture), small plastic, round sculpture.

Samples of early round sculpture are still far from perfect, they are rough, static. Basically, these are kouros - male figures and bark - female figures.

Gradually Ancient Greek sculpture acquires dynamics and realism. In the classical era, such masters as Pythagoras of Rhegius (480-450 BC) create: “The boy taking out a splinter”, “The Charioteer” Myron (mid-5th century BC) : "Discobolus", Polykleitos (mid-5th century BC), "Dorifor" ("Spear-bearer"), Phidias (mid-5th century BC), sculpture of the Parthenon, sculpture of the goddess Athena - "Athena the Virgin ”, Athena from the island of Lemnos. No copies have survived sculptures Athens Promachos ("Victors"), standing on the propylaea of ​​the acropolis, its height reached 17 m, nor the statue of Olympian Zeus. By the end of the classic period sculptural the images become more emotional, spiritualized, as in the works of Praxiteles, Skopas, Lysippus. Hellenistic sculpture more realistic and complex compositionally. Artists are attracted by new themes: old age, suffering, struggle (“Laocoön with his sons”, “Nike of Samothrace”).

We have already spoken about the ORIGINS. The planned dotted line was interrupted for objective reasons, but I still want to continue. I remind you that we stopped in deep history - in the art of Ancient Greece. What do we remember from the school curriculum? As a rule, three names are firmly seated in our memory - Miron, Phidias, Poliklet. Then we remember that there was also Lysippus, Skopas, Praxiteles and Leochar ... So let's see what is what. So, the time of action is 4-5 centuries BC, the scene is Ancient Greece.

PYTHAGORAS REGIA
Pythagoras of Regius (5th century BC) is an ancient Greek ancient Greek sculptor of the early classic period, whose works are known only from mentions of ancient authors. Several Roman copies of his works have survived, including my favorite, The Boy Taking Out a Splinter. This work gave rise to the so-called landscape gardening sculpture.

Pythagoras Rhegian Boy removing a splinter c. middle 5th century BC br.roman copy of the Capitoline museum

MIRON
Myron (Μύρων) - sculptor of the middle of the 5th century. BC e. Sculptor of the era immediately preceding the highest flowering of Greek art (late 6th - early 5th century). The ancients characterize him as the greatest realist and expert in anatomy, who, however, did not know how to give life and expression to faces. He portrayed gods, heroes and animals, and with special love he reproduced difficult, fleeting poses. His most famous work, "Discobolus", an athlete intending to start a discus, is a statue that has come down to our time in several copies, of which the best is made of marble and is located in the Massimi Palace in Rome.

Discus thrower.
PHIDIUS.
One of the founders of the classical style is the ancient Greek sculptor Phidias, who decorated with his sculptures both the temple of Zeus in Olympia and the temple of Athena (Parthenon) in the Acropolis of Athens. Fragments of the sculptural frieze of the Parthenon are now in the British Museum (London).




Fragments of the frieze and pediment of the Parthenon. British Museum, London.

The main sculptural works of Phidias (Athena and Zeus) have long been lost, the temples have been destroyed and plundered.


Parthenon.

There are many attempts to reconstruct the temples of Athena and Zeus. You can read about it here:
Information about Phidias himself and his legacy is relatively scarce. Among the statues that exist today, there is not a single one that would undoubtedly belong to Phidias. All knowledge about his work is based on the descriptions of ancient authors, on the study of later copies, as well as surviving works, which are attributed with more or less certainty to Phidias.

More about Phidias http://biography-peoples.ru/index.php/f/item/750-fidij
http://art.1september.ru/article.php?ID=200901207
http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/3155073/post207627184/

Well, about the rest of the representatives of ancient Greek culture.

POLYCLETUS
Greek sculptor of the second half of the 5th c. BC e. The creator of many statues, including the winners of sports games, for the cult sports centers of Argos, Olympia, Thebes and Megalopolis. The author of the canon of the image of the human body in sculpture, known as the "canon of Polykleitos", according to which the head is 1/8 of the length of the body, the face and palms are 1/10, the foot is 1/6. The canon was observed in Greek sculpture to the end, the so-called. classical era, that is, until the end of the 4th century. BC e., when Lysippus laid down new principles. His most famous work is "Dorifor" (Spearman). It's from an encyclopedia.

Polykleitos. Doryphorus. Pushkin Museum. Gypsum copy.

PRAXITELS

APHRODITE OF CNIDS (Roman copy from original 4th century BC) Rome, National Museums (head, arms, legs, drapery restored)
One of the most famous works in ancient sculpture is Aphrodite of Knidos, the first ancient Greek sculpture (height - 2 m.), depicting a naked woman before bathing.

Aphrodite of Cnidus, (Aphrodite of Braschi) Roman copy, 1st c. BC. Glyptothek, Munich

Aphrodite of Knidos. Medium grained marble. Torso - Roman copy of the 2nd century. n. gypsum copy of the Pushkin Museum
According to Pliny, the inhabitants of the island of Kos ordered the statue of Aphrodite for the local sanctuary. Praxiteles performed two options: a naked goddess and a dressed goddess. For both statues, Praxiteles appointed the same fee. The customers did not risk and chose the traditional version, with a draped figure. Its copies and descriptions have not been preserved, and it has sunk into oblivion. And Aphrodite of Knidos, who remained in the workshop of the sculptor, was bought by the inhabitants of the city of Knidos, which favored the development of the city: pilgrims began to flock to Knidos, attracted by the famous sculpture. Aphrodite stood in an open-air temple, visible from all sides.
Aphrodite of Cnidus enjoyed such fame and was copied so often that they even told an anecdote about her, which formed the basis of the epigram: “Seeing Cyprida on Knida, Cyprida bashfully said: “Woe to me, where did Praxiteles see me naked?”
Praxiteles created the goddess of love and beauty as the personification of earthly femininity, inspired by the image of his beloved, the beautiful Phryne. Indeed, the face of Aphrodite, although created according to the canon, with a dreamy look of languid shaded eyes, bears a hint of individuality, indicating a specific original. Having created an almost portrait image, Praxiteles looked into the future.
A romantic legend about the relationship between Praxiteles and Phryne has been preserved. It is said that Phryne asked Praxiteles to give her his best work as a token of love. He agreed, but refused to say which of the statues he considered the best. Then Phryne ordered the servant to inform Praxiteles about the fire in the workshop. The frightened master exclaimed: “If the flame destroyed both Eros and Satyr, then everything died!” So Phryne found out what kind of work she could ask Praxiteles.

Praxiteles (presumably). Hermes with the infant Dionysus IV c. BC. Museum at Olympia
The sculpture "Hermes with the baby Dionysus" is typical of the late classic period. She personifies not physical strength, as was customary before, but beauty and harmony, restrained and lyrical human communication. The depiction of feelings, the inner life of characters is a new phenomenon in ancient art, not characteristic of high classics. The masculinity of Hermes is emphasized by the infantile appearance of Dionysus. The curved lines of the figure of Hermes are graceful. His strong and developed body is devoid of the athleticism characteristic of the works of Polykleitos. The facial expression, although devoid of individual features, is soft and thoughtful. Her hair was painted and tied with a silver headband.
Praxiteles achieved the feeling of warmth of the body by fine modeling of the surface of marble and with great skill conveyed in stone the fabric of Hermes' cloak and Dionysus' clothes.

SCOPAS

Museum in Olympia, Skopas Menada Reduced marble Roman copy after the original 1st third of 4 c
Skopas - ancient Greek sculptor and architect of the 4th century. BC e., representative of the late classics. Born on the island of Paros, he worked in Teges (now Piali), Halicarnassus (now Bodrum) and other cities of Greece and Asia Minor. As an architect, he took part in the construction of the temple of Athena Alei in Tegea (350-340 BC) and the mausoleum in Halicarnassus (mid-4th century BC). Among the authentic works of S. that have come down to us, the most important is the frieze of the mausoleum in Halicarnassus depicting Amazonomachia (mid-4th century BC; together with Briaxis, Leoharomi Timothy; fragments - in the British Museum, London; see illustration). Numerous works by S. are known from Roman copies (“Potos”, “Young Hercules”, “Meleagr”, “Maenad”, see illustration). Rejecting the inherent art of the 5th century. harmonious calmness of the image, S. turned to the transfer of strong emotional experiences, the struggle of passions. To implement them, S. used a dynamic composition and new techniques for interpreting details, especially facial features: deep-set eyes, wrinkles on the forehead, and a parted mouth. The work of S., saturated with dramatic pathos, had a great influence on the sculptors of the Hellenistic culture (see Hellenistic culture), in particular on the works of masters of the 3rd and 2nd centuries who worked in the city of Pergamon.

LYSIPP
Lysippus was born around 390 in Sicyon in the Peloponnese and his work already represents the later, Hellenic part of the art of ancient Greece.

Lysippos. Hercules with a lion. Second half of the 4th c. BC e. Marble Roman copy of a bronze original. St. Petersburg, Hermitage.

LEOHAR
Leohar - ancient Greek sculptor of the 4th century. BC e., who in the 350s worked with Scopas on the sculptural decoration of Mausoleum in Halicarnassus.

Leohar Artemis of Versailles (Mr. Roman copy of 1-2 centuries from original c. 330 BC) Paris, Louvre

Leohar. Apollo Belvedere This is me with him in the Vatican. Forgive the liberties, but it's easier not to load a plaster copy this way.

Well, then there was Hellenism. We know him well from Venus (in "Greek" Aphrodite) of Milos and Nike of Samothrace, which are kept in the Louvre.

Venus de Milo. Around 120 BC Louvre.

Nike of Samothrace. OK. 190 BC e. Louvre

There are many historical facts related to Greek Statues (which we will not go into in this compilation). However, it is not necessary to have a degree in history to admire the incredible craftsmanship of these magnificent sculptures. Truly timeless works of art, these 25 most legendary Greek statues are masterpieces of varying proportions.

Athlete from Fano

Known by the Italian name The Athlete of Fano, Victorious Youth is a Greek bronze sculpture that was found in the Fano Sea on the Adriatic coast of Italy. The Fano Athlete was built between 300 and 100 BC and is currently in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum in California. Historians believe that the statue was once part of a group of sculptures of victorious athletes at Olympia and Delphi. Italy still wants to return the sculpture and disputes its removal from Italy.

Poseidon from Cape Artemision
An ancient Greek sculpture that was found and restored by the sea at Cape Artemision. The bronze Artemision is believed to represent either Zeus or Poseidon. There is still some debate about this sculpture because its missing thunderbolts rule out the possibility that it is Zeus, while its missing trident also rules out the possibility that it is Poseidon. Sculpture has always been associated with the ancient sculptors Myron and Onatas.

Zeus statue in Olympia
The statue of Zeus at Olympia is a 13-meter statue, with a giant figure seated on a throne. This sculpture was created by a Greek sculptor named Phidias and is currently in the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, Greece. The statue is made of ivory and wood and depicts the Greek god Zeus seated on a cedar throne adorned with gold, ebony and other precious stones.

Athena Parthenon
Athena of the Parthenon is a giant gold and ivory statue of the Greek goddess Athena, discovered in the Parthenon in Athens. Made of silver, ivory and gold, it was created by the famous ancient Greek sculptor Phidias and is regarded today as the most famous iconic symbol of Athens. The sculpture was destroyed by a fire that took place in 165 BC, but was restored and placed in the Parthenon in the 5th century.

Lady of Auxerre
The 75 cm Lady of Auxerre is a Cretan sculpture currently housed in the Louvre in Paris. She depicts an archaic Greek goddess during the 6th century, Persephone. A curator from the Louvre named Maxime Collignon found a mini statue in the vault of the Musée Auxerre in 1907. Historians believe that the sculpture was created during the 7th century during the Greek transitional period.

Antinous Mondragon
The 0.95 meter tall marble statue depicts the god Antinous among a massive group of cult statues built to worship Antinous as a Greek god. When the sculpture was found at Frascati during the 17th century, it was identified by its striated eyebrows, serious expression, and gaze that was directed downwards. This creation was purchased in 1807 for Napoleon and is currently on display at the Louvre.

Apollo Strangford
An ancient Greek sculpture made of marble, the Strangford Apollo was built between 500 and 490 BC and was created in honor of the Greek god Apollo. It was discovered on the island of Anafi and named after the diplomat Percy Smith, 6th Viscount Strangford and the real owner of the statue. The Apollo is currently housed in room 15 of the British Museum.

Kroisos of Anavyssos
Discovered in Attica, Kroisos of Anavyssos is a marble kouros that once served as a tomb statue for Kroisos, a young and noble Greek warrior. The statue is famous for its archaic smile. 1.95 meters tall, Kroisos is a freestanding sculpture that was built between 540 and 515 BC and is currently on display at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. The inscription under the statue reads: “stop and mourn at the gravestone of Kroisos, who was killed by the rampaging Ares when he was in the front ranks.”

Beaton and Cleobis
Created by the Greek sculptor Polymidis, Bython and Cleobis are a pair of archaic Greek statues created by the Argives in 580 BC to worship two brothers linked by Solon in a legend called the Histories. The statue is now in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi, Greece. Originally built in Argos, Peloponnese, a pair of statues were found at Delphi with inscriptions on the base identifying them as Cleobis and Byton.

Hermes with baby Dionysus
Created in honor of the Greek god Hermes, Hermes Praxiteles represents Hermes carrying another popular character in Greek mythology, the infant Dionysus. The statue was made from Parian marble. It is believed by historians that it was built by the ancient Greeks during 330 BC. It is known today as one of the most original masterpieces of the great Greek sculptor Praxiteles and is currently housed in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Greece.

Alexander the Great
A statue of Alexander the Great was discovered in the Palace of Pella in Greece. Marble-coated and made of marble, the statue was built in 280 BC to honor Alexander the Great, a popular Greek hero who gained fame in several parts of the world and fought battles against the Persian armies, especially at Granisus, Issus and Gaugamela. The statue of Alexander the Great is now on display among the Greek art collections of the Archaeological Museum of Pella in Greece.

Kora in Peplos
Restored from the Acropolis of Athens, the Peplos Kore is a stylized depiction of the Greek goddess Athena. Historians believe that the statue was created to serve as a votive offering during ancient times. Made during the Archaic period of Greek art history, Kore is characterized by the rigid and formal pose of Athena, her majestic curls and archaic smile. The statue originally appeared in a variety of colors, but only traces of its original colors can be seen today.

Ephebe from Antikythera
Made of fine bronze, the Ephebe of Antikythera is a statue of a young man, god or hero holding a spherical object in his right hand. Being a creation of Peloponnesian bronze sculpture, this statue was restored in the area of ​​a shipwreck near the island of Antikythera. It is believed to be one of the works of the famous sculptor Ephranor. Ephebe is currently on display at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

Delphic charioteer
Better known as Heniokos, the Charioteer of Delphi is one of the most popular statues that survived Ancient Greece. This life-size bronze statue depicts a chariot driver that was restored in 1896 at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. Here it was originally erected during the 4th century to commemorate the victory of the chariot team in ancient sports. Originally part of a massive group of sculptures, the Charioteer of Delphi is now displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.

Harmodius and Aristogeiton
Harmodius and Aristogeiton were created after the establishment of democracy in Greece. Created by the Greek sculptor Antenor, the statues were made of bronze. These were the first statues in Greece to be paid for with public funds. The purpose of the creation was to honor both men, whom the ancient Athenians accepted as outstanding symbols of democracy. The original installation site was Kerameikos in 509 AD, along with other heroes of Greece.

Aphrodite of Knidos
Known as one of the most popular statues created by the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles, Aphrodite of Knidos was the first life-size representation of a nude Aphrodite. Praxiteles built the statue after he was commissioned by Kos to create a statue depicting the beautiful goddess Aphrodite. In addition to its status as a cult image, the masterpiece has become a landmark in Greece. Its original copy did not survive the massive fire that once took place in ancient Greece, but its replica is currently on display in the British Museum.

Winged Victory of Samothrace
Created in 200 BC. The Winged Victory of Samothrace depicting the Greek goddess Nike is considered today as the greatest masterpiece of Hellenistic sculpture. She is currently on display at the Louvre among the most celebrated original statues in the world. It was created between 200 and 190 BC, not to honor the Greek goddess Nike, but to celebrate a naval battle. The Winged Victory was established by the Macedonian general Demetrius, after his naval victory in Cyprus.

Statue of Leonidas I at Thermopylae
The statue of the Spartan king Leonidas I at Thermopylae was erected in 1955, in memory of the heroic king Leonidas, who distinguished himself during the Battle against the Persians in 480 BC. The sign was placed under the statue, which reads "Come and Get It". This is what Leonidas said when King Xerxes and his army asked them to lay down their weapons.

Wounded Achilles
Wounded Achilles is the image of the hero of the Iliad named Achilles. This ancient Greek masterpiece depicts his agony before his death, being wounded by a deadly arrow. Made from alabaster stone, the original statue is currently located at the Achilleion residence of Queen Elisabeth of Austria in Kofu, Greece.

Dying Gaul
Also known as the Death of Galatian, or the Dying Gladiator, the Dying Gaul is an ancient Hellenistic sculpture that was created between 230 BC and 230 BC. and 220 BC for Attalus I of Pergamon to celebrate the victory of his group over the Gauls in Anatolia. It is believed that the statue was created by Epigonus, a sculptor of the Attalid dynasty. The statue depicts a dying Celtic warrior lying on his fallen shield next to his sword.

Laocoon and his sons
The statue, currently located in the Vatican Museum in Rome, Laocoön and his Sons, is also known as the Laocoön Group and was originally created by three great Greek sculptors from the island of Rhodes, Agesender, Polydorus and Athenodoros. This life-size marble statue depicts a Trojan priest named Laocoön, along with his sons Timbreus and Antiphanthes, being strangled by sea serpents.

The Colossus of Rhodes
A statue depicting a Greek Titan named Helios, the Colossus of Rhodes was first erected in the city of Rhodes between 292 and 280 BC. Recognized today as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the statue was built to celebrate the victory of Rhodes over the ruler of Cyprus during the 2nd century. Known as one of the tallest statues of Ancient Greece, the original statue was destroyed by the earthquake that hit Rhodes in 226 BC.

Discus thrower
Built by one of the best sculptors of Ancient Greece during the 5th century, Myron, the Discus Thrower was a statue originally placed at the entrance to the Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens, Greece, where the first event of the Olympic Games was held. The original statue, made of alabaster stone, did not survive the destruction of Greece and has never been restored.

diadumen
Found off the island of Tilos, the Diadumen is an ancient Greek sculpture that was created during the 5th century. The original statue, which was restored in Tilos, is now part of the collections of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Trojan horse
Made of marble and coated with a special bronze coating, the Trojan Horse is an ancient Greek sculpture that was built between 470 BC and 460 BC to represent the Trojan horse in Homer's Iliad. The original masterpiece survived the devastation of Ancient Greece and is currently in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Greece.

Ancient Greece was one of the greatest states in the world. During its existence and on its territory, the foundations of European art were laid. The surviving cultural monuments of that period testify to the highest achievements of the Greeks in the field of architecture, philosophical thought, poetry and, of course, sculpture. There are few originals left: time does not spare even the most unique creations. We know much about the skill that the ancient sculptors were famous for thanks to written sources and later Roman copies. However, this information is enough to realize the significance of the contribution of the inhabitants of the Peloponnese to world culture.

Periods

The sculptors of ancient Greece were not always great creators. The heyday of their craftsmanship was preceded by the archaic period (7th-6th centuries BC). The sculptures of that time that have come down to us are symmetrical and static. They do not have that vitality and hidden inner movement that makes the statues look like frozen people. All the beauty of these early works is expressed through the face. It is no longer as static as the body: a smile radiates a feeling of joy and serenity, giving a special sound to the whole sculpture.

After the completion of the archaic, the most fruitful time follows, in which the ancient sculptors of Ancient Greece created their most famous works. It is divided into several periods:

• early classic - the beginning of the 5th century. BC e.;
• high classic - 5th c. BC e.;
• late classic - 4th c. BC e.;
• Hellenism - the end of the IV century. BC e. - I century. n. e.

transition time

The Early Classics is the period when the sculptors of Ancient Greece begin to move away from static position in the body, to look for new ways to express their ideas. Proportions are filled with natural beauty, poses become more dynamic, and faces become expressive.

The sculptor of Ancient Greece Myron worked during this period. In written sources, he is characterized as a master of transferring the anatomically correct body structure, capable of capturing reality with high accuracy. Miron's contemporaries also pointed to his shortcomings: in their opinion, the sculptor did not know how to give beauty and liveliness to the faces of his creations.

The statues of the master embody heroes, gods and animals. However, the sculptor of Ancient Greece Myron gave the greatest preference to the image of athletes during their accomplishments in competitions. The famous Disco Thrower is his creation. The sculpture has not survived to this day in the original, but there are several copies of it. "Discobolus" depicts an athlete preparing to launch his projectile. The athlete's body is superbly executed: tense muscles testify to the heaviness of the disc, the twisted body resembles a spring ready to unfold. It seems like another second, and the athlete will throw a projectile.

The statues “Athena” and “Marsyas” are also considered to be superbly executed by Myron, which also came down to us only in the form of later copies.

heyday

Outstanding sculptors of ancient Greece worked throughout the period of high classics. At this time, the masters of creating reliefs and statues comprehend both the ways of conveying movement and the basics of harmony and proportions. High Classics is the period of the formation of those foundations of Greek sculpture, which later became the standard for many generations of masters, including the creators of the Renaissance.

At this time, the sculptor of Ancient Greece Policlet and the brilliant Phidias worked. Both of them forced to admire themselves during their lifetime and were not forgotten for centuries.

Peace and harmony

Polikleitos worked in the second half of the 5th century. BC e. He is known as a master of sculptures depicting athletes at rest. Unlike Miron's Discobolus, his athletes are not tense, but relaxed, but at the same time, the viewer does not have any doubts about their power and capabilities.

Polikleitos was the first to use a special position of the body: his heroes often leaned on the pedestal with only one foot. This posture created a feeling of natural relaxation, characteristic of a resting person.

Canon

The most famous sculpture of Polikleitos is considered "Dorifor", or "Spearman". The work is also called the master's canon, since it embodies some of the provisions of Pythagoreanism and is an example of a special way of posing a figure, contraposta. The composition is based on the principle of cross uneven movement of the body: the left side (the arm holding the spear and the leg set back) is relaxed, but at the same time in motion, as opposed to the tense and static right side (the supporting leg and the arm extended along the body).

Polikleitos used a similar technique later in many of his works. Its main principles are set forth in a treatise on aesthetics that has not come down to us, written by a sculptor and called by him "Canon". A rather large place in it Polikleito assigned to the principle, which he also successfully applied in his works, when this principle did not contradict the natural parameters of the body.

Recognized genius

All the ancient sculptors of Ancient Greece of the High Classic period left behind admirable creations. However, the most prominent among them was Phidias, rightfully considered the founder of European art. Unfortunately, most of the master's works have survived to this day only as copies or descriptions on the pages of treatises by ancient authors.

Phidias worked on the decoration of the Athenian Parthenon. Today, an idea of ​​the skill of the sculptor can be summed up by the preserved marble relief, 1.6 m long. It depicts numerous pilgrims heading to the rest of the decorations of the Parthenon perished. The same fate befell the statue of Athena, installed here and created by Phidias. The goddess, made of ivory and gold, symbolized the city itself, its power and greatness.

wonder of the world

Other prominent sculptors of ancient Greece may not have been inferior to Phidias, but none of them could boast of creating a wonder of the world. The Olympic was made by a craftsman for the city where the famous Games were held. The height of the Thunderer, seated on a golden throne, was amazing (14 meters). Despite such power, the god did not look formidable: Phidias created a calm, majestic and solemn Zeus, somewhat strict, but at the same time kind. The statue before its death for nine centuries attracted many pilgrims who sought solace.

late classic

With the end of the 5th c. BC e. the sculptors of ancient Greece did not run out. The names Skopas, Praxiteles and Lysippus are known to everyone who is interested in ancient art. They worked in the next period, called the late classics. The works of these masters develop and complement the achievements of the previous era. Each in their own way, they transform the sculpture, enriching it with new subjects, ways of working with the material and options for conveying emotions.

Boiling passions

Scopas can be called an innovator for several reasons. The great sculptors of ancient Greece who preceded him preferred to use bronze as their material. Scopas created his creations mainly from marble. Instead of the traditional calm and harmony that filled his works of Ancient Greece, the master chose expression. His creations are full of passions and experiences, they are more like real people than imperturbable gods.

The most famous work of Scopas is the frieze of the mausoleum in Halicarnassus. It depicts Amazonomachy - the struggle of the heroes of Greek myths with the warlike Amazons. The main features of the style inherent in the master are clearly visible from the surviving fragments of this creation.

smoothness

Another sculptor of this period, Praxiteles, is considered the best Greek master in terms of conveying the grace of the body and inner spirituality. One of his outstanding works - Aphrodite of Knidos - was recognized by the master's contemporaries as the best creation ever created. goddess became the first monumental image of a naked female body. The original has not come down to us.

The features of the style characteristic of Praxiteles are fully visible in the statue of Hermes. With a special staging of a naked body, smooth lines and soft halftones of marble, the master managed to create a somewhat dreamy mood that literally envelops the sculpture.

Attention to detail

At the end of the late classic era, another famous Greek sculptor, Lysippus, worked. His creations were distinguished by special naturalism, careful study of details, and some elongation of proportions. Lysippus strove to create statues full of grace and elegance. He honed his skills by studying the canon of Polykleitos. Contemporaries noted that the work of Lysippus, in contrast to the "Dorifor", gave the impression of being more compact and balanced. According to legend, the master was the favorite creator of Alexander the Great.

Influence of the East

A new stage in the development of sculpture begins at the end of the 4th century. BC e. The border between the two periods is the time of the conquests of Alexander the Great. They actually begin the era of Hellenism, which was a combination of the art of ancient Greece and the eastern countries.

The sculptures of this period are based on the achievements of the masters of previous centuries. Hellenistic art gave the world such works as the Venus de Milo. At the same time, the famous reliefs of the Pergamon altar appeared. In some works of late Hellenism, an appeal to everyday plots and details is noticeable. The culture of Ancient Greece of this time had a strong influence on the formation of the art of the Roman Empire.

Finally

The importance of antiquity as a source of spiritual and aesthetic ideals cannot be overestimated. Ancient sculptors in ancient Greece laid not only the foundations of their own craft, but also the standards for understanding the beauty of the human body. They managed to solve the problem of depicting movement by changing the posture and shifting the center of gravity. The ancient sculptors of Ancient Greece learned to convey emotions and experiences with the help of a processed stone, to create not just statues, but practically living figures, ready to move at any moment, breathe, smile. All these achievements will form the basis of the flourishing of culture in the Renaissance.

planning travel to Greece, many people are interested not only in comfortable hotels, but also in the fascinating history of this ancient country, an integral part of which are art objects.

A large number of treatises by well-known art historians are devoted specifically to ancient Greek sculpture, as the fundamental branch of world culture. Unfortunately, many monuments of that time did not survive in their original form, and are known from later copies. By studying them, one can trace the history of the development of Greek fine art from the Homeric period to the Hellenistic era, and highlight the most striking and famous creations of each period.

Aphrodite de Milo

The world-famous Aphrodite from the island of Milos belongs to the Hellenistic period of Greek art. At this time, by the forces of Alexander the Great, the culture of Hellas began to spread far beyond the Balkan Peninsula, which was noticeably reflected in the visual arts - sculptures, paintings and frescoes became more realistic, the faces of the gods on them have human features - relaxed postures, an abstract look, a soft smile .

Statue of Aphrodite, or as the Romans called it, Venus, is made of snow-white marble. Its height is slightly more than human height, and is 2.03 meters. The statue was discovered by chance by an ordinary French sailor, who in 1820, together with a local peasant, dug up Aphrodite near the remains of an ancient amphitheater on the island of Milos. During its transportation and customs disputes, the statue lost its arms and pedestal, but a record has been preserved of the author of the masterpiece indicated on it: Agesander, the son of a resident of Antioch Menida.

Today, after a thorough restoration, Aphrodite is exhibited in the Louvre in Paris, attracting millions of tourists every year with its natural beauty.

Nike of Samothrace

The time of creation of the statue of the goddess of victory Nike dates back to the 2nd century BC. Studies have shown that Nika was installed above the sea coast on a sheer cliff - her marble clothes flutter as if from the wind, and the slope of the body represents a constant movement forward. The thinnest folds of clothing cover the strong body of the goddess, and powerful wings are spread in joy and triumph of victory.

The head and hands of the statue have not been preserved, although individual fragments were discovered during excavations in 1950. In particular, Karl Lehmann with a group of archaeologists found the right hand of the goddess. Nike of Samothrace is now one of the outstanding exhibits of the Louvre. Her hand was never added to the general exhibition, only the right wing, which was made of plaster, underwent restoration.

Laocoon and his sons

A sculptural composition depicting the mortal struggle of Laocoön, the priest of the god Apollo, and his sons with two snakes sent by Apollo in retaliation for the fact that Laocoön did not listen to his will and tried to prevent the entry of the Trojan horse into the city.

The statue was made of bronze, but its original has not survived to this day. In the 15th century, a marble copy of the sculpture was found on the territory of the "golden house" of Nero, and by order of Pope Julius II, it was installed in a separate niche of the Vatican Belvedere. In 1798, the statue of Laocoon was moved to Paris, but after the fall of Napoleon's rule, the British returned it to its original place, where it is kept to this day.

The composition, depicting Laocoön's desperate death struggle with divine punishment, inspired many sculptors of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and gave rise to a fashion for depicting complex, vortex-like movements of the human body in fine art.

Zeus from Cape Artemision

The statue, found by divers near Cape Artemision, is made of bronze, and is one of the few pieces of art of this type that has survived to this day in its original form. Researchers disagree on whether the sculpture belongs specifically to Zeus, believing that it can also depict the god of the seas, Poseidon.

The statue has a height of 2.09 m, and depicts the supreme Greek god, who raised his right hand in order to throw lightning in righteous anger. The lightning itself has not been preserved, but numerous smaller figurines show that it looked like a flat, strongly elongated bronze disk.

From almost two thousand years of being under water, the statue almost did not suffer. Only the eyes, which were supposedly made of ivory and encrusted with precious stones, disappeared. You can see this work of art in the National Archaeological Museum, which is located in Athens.

Statue of Diadumen

A marble copy of a bronze statue of a young man who himself crowns himself with a diadem - a symbol of sports victory, probably adorned the venue for competitions in Olympia or Delphi. The diadem at that time was a red woolen bandage, which, along with laurel wreaths, was awarded to the winners of the Olympic Games. The author of the work, Poliklet, performed it in his favorite style - the young man is in easy movement, his face displays complete calm and concentration. The athlete behaves like a well-deserved winner - he does not show fatigue, although his body needs rest after the fight. In sculpture, the author managed to very naturally convey not only small elements, but also the general position of the body, correctly distributing the mass of the figure. The full proportionality of the body is the pinnacle of the development of this period - classicism of the 5th century.

Although the bronze original has not survived to our time, copies of it can be seen in many museums around the world - the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Louvre, the Metropolitan, the British Museum.

Aphrodite Braschi

A marble statue of Aphrodite depicts the goddess of love, who was naked before taking her legendary, often described in myths, bath, returning her virginity. Aphrodite in her left hand holds her removed clothes, which gently fall on a nearby jug. From an engineering point of view, this decision made the fragile statue more stable, and gave the sculptor the opportunity to give it a more relaxed pose. The uniqueness of Aphrodite Brasca is that this is the first known statue of the goddess, the author of which decided to portray her naked, which at one time was considered unheard of insolence.

There are legends according to which the sculptor Praxiteles created Aphrodite in the image of his beloved, hetaera Phryne. When her former admirer, orator Euthias, found out about this, he raised a scandal, as a result of which Praxiteles was accused of unforgivable blasphemy. At the trial, the defender, seeing that his arguments did not impress the judge, pulled off Phryne's clothes to show those present that such a perfect body of the model simply cannot harbor a dark soul. The judges, being adherents of the concept of kalokagatiya, were forced to fully acquit the defendants.

The original statue was taken to Constantinople, where it died in a fire. Many copies of Aphrodite have survived to our time, but they all have their own differences, as they were restored according to verbal and written descriptions and images on coins.

marathon youth

The statue of a young man is made of bronze, and presumably depicts the Greek god Hermes, although there are no prerequisites or his attributes in the hands or clothes of the young man. The sculpture was raised from the bottom of the Gulf of Marathon in 1925, and since then has replenished the exposition of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Due to the fact that the statue was under water for a long time, all its features are very well preserved.

The style in which the statue is made betrays the style of the famous sculptor Praxiteles. The young man stands in a relaxed pose, his hand rests on the wall, near which the figure was installed.

Discus thrower

The statue of the ancient Greek sculptor Myron has not been preserved in its original form, but is widely known throughout the world thanks to bronze and marble copies. The sculpture is unique in that for the first time it depicted a person in a complex, dynamic movement. Such a bold decision of the author served as a vivid example for his followers, who with no less success created objects of art in the style of "Figura serpentinata" - a special technique depicting a person or animal in an often unnatural, tense, but very expressive, from the observer's point of view, pose.

Delphic charioteer

The bronze sculpture of a charioteer was discovered during the 1896 excavations at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi and is a classic example of ancient art. The figure depicts an ancient Greek youth driving a wagon during Pythian Games.

The uniqueness of the sculpture lies in the fact that the inlay of the eyes with precious stones has been preserved. The eyelashes and lips of the young man are decorated with copper, and the headband is made of silver, and presumably also had inlay.

The time of creation of the sculpture, theoretically, is at the junction of archaic and early classics - its pose is characterized by stiffness and the absence of any hint of movement, but the head and face are made with a rather great realism. As in later sculptures.

Athena Parthenos

Majestic goddess athena statue has not survived to our time, but there are many copies of it, restored according to ancient descriptions. The sculpture was completely made of ivory and gold, without the use of stone or bronze, and stood in the main temple of Athens - the Parthenon. A distinctive feature of the goddess is a high helmet, decorated with three crests.

The history of the creation of the statue was not without fatal moments: on the shield of the goddess, the sculptor Phidias, in addition to the image of the battle with the Amazons, placed his portrait in the form of a weak old man who lifts a heavy stone with both hands. The public of that time ambiguously regarded the act of Phidias, which cost him his life - the sculptor was imprisoned, where he committed suicide with the help of poison.

Greek culture has become the founder for the development of fine arts around the world. Even today, looking at some modern paintings and statues, one can detect the influence of this ancient culture.

Ancient Hellas became the cradle in which the cult of human beauty in its physical, moral and intellectual manifestation was actively brought up. Inhabitants of Greece of that time, they not only worshiped many Olympic gods, but also tried to resemble them as much as possible. All this is displayed in bronze and marble statues - they not only convey the image of a person or a deity, but also make them close to each other.

Although many of the statues have not survived to the present, their exact copies can be seen in many museums around the world.

Thessaloniki in Greece. History, sights (part six)

Ottoman control of the city during the last decades of Turkish domination was the backbone of its development, especially in infrastructure. A large number of new public buildings were erected in an eclectic style to give Thessaloniki a European face. Between 1869 and 1889 the city walls were destroyed as a result of the planned expansion of the city. In 1888, the first maintenance of the tram line began, and already in 1908, the city streets were lit with electric lamps and posts. From the same year, the railway connected Thessaloniki with Central Europe via Belgrade, Monastir and Constantinople. The city again began to acquire its national “Greek face” only after the departure of the Turkish conquerors and the state gaining freedom. However, the turbulent events of the last century left their mark on the modern image of the city. Currently, Thessaloniki plays the role of a metropolis with a rather mixed population - representatives of more than 80 peoples live here, not counting minor ethnic groups.

Euboea, or in modern Greek Evia, is the second largest island in Greece: about 3900 km2. However, the insular position of Euboea is quite relative: the island is separated from mainland Greece by the narrow strait of Evripos (Euripus), the width of which is only 40m! Even the ancient Greeks connected Euboea with the continent by a bridge about 60 m long.

Christmas on Athos. Pilgrimage at Christmas

It is called the earthly lot of the Mother of God and the main holy place for all Christians. This is Mount Athos, around which there are many legends and incredible stories of amazing healing. Mount Athos is sacred not only to the Greeks, but also to hundreds of thousands of Christian men around the world. The foot of a woman has never set foot on the ground of this monastic monastery, except for the foot of the Mother of God, as the Mother of God herself bequeathed.

Alexandroupoli

Many people are not alien to the desire to go somewhere in the south in the summer. Even if they go to Greece, they still want to relax on its southern part. I suggest you visit the Thracian city of Alexandroupoli, located in the northeast of Hellas. The city was founded by the great commander and conqueror Alexander the Great in 340 BC. e.

Mini Hotel

Mini-hotel, ILIAHTIADA Apartments is a small modern hotel, built in 1991, located in Halkidiki, on the Kassandra peninsula, in the village of Kriopigi, 90 km from Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki. The hotel offers spacious rooms and a welcoming atmosphere. This is a great place for an economical family vacation. The hotel is located on an area of ​​4500 square meters. m.