Polykleitos was an ancient Greek sculptor active during the 5th century BCE, renowned for his pioneering contributions to the art of sculpture, particularly through his work on the ideal proportions of the human body. His most famous work, the 'Doryphoros' or 'Spear-Bearer', exemplifies his canon of proportions and reflects the cultural values of harmony, balance, and ideal beauty that characterized Periclean Athens. This focus on the human figure paralleled the broader artistic and intellectual movements of his time, which celebrated humanism and realism in art.
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Polykleitos is often considered one of the most important sculptors of ancient Greece, and his works greatly influenced later Roman sculpture.
His treatise 'Kanōn' discussed his theories on proportion and symmetry, establishing guidelines for sculptors aiming to achieve ideal beauty.
The 'Doryphoros' became a model for future representations of male athletes and was widely copied throughout antiquity.
Polykleitos emphasized a contrapposto stance in his sculptures, creating a sense of movement and life that was groundbreaking for his time.
His works reflect the cultural values of Periclean Athens, showcasing a society that prioritized aesthetics, human achievement, and intellectual inquiry.
Review Questions
How did Polykleitos' approach to sculpture reflect the values of Periclean Athens?
Polykleitos' sculptures, especially the 'Doryphoros', embody the ideals of harmony and proportion that were central to the cultural values of Periclean Athens. His focus on idealized human forms mirrored Athenian values of beauty and excellence in both art and society. By establishing a canon for proportion that sought to depict the perfect male athlete, he reinforced the Athenian celebration of human achievement, reflecting a society that revered both physical prowess and intellectual pursuits.
Analyze how Polykleitos' 'Canon' influenced later artistic developments in both Greek and Roman sculpture.
Polykleitos' 'Canon' had a profound impact on later artistic developments by providing a standardized set of proportions for sculptors to emulate. This approach ensured that subsequent artists focused on achieving idealized forms that emphasized balance and symmetry. Roman sculptors were particularly influenced by Polykleitos, as they adopted his principles to create their own works that celebrated both realism and ideal beauty. His techniques established a lasting legacy in Western art that shaped future representations of the human figure.
Evaluate the significance of contrapposto in Polykleitos' sculptures and its implications for the evolution of Greek art.
The use of contrapposto in Polykleitos' sculptures marked a significant turning point in Greek art by introducing a more dynamic representation of the human form. This technique allowed figures to appear more relaxed and naturalistic, breaking away from rigid frontal poses common in earlier works. As artists adopted contrapposto, it not only enhanced the sense of movement but also reflected a deeper understanding of human anatomy and posture. The implications were profound, as this approach set the stage for greater realism and expressiveness in subsequent artistic movements, influencing generations of artists well beyond ancient Greece.
Related terms
Doryphoros: A famous sculpture created by Polykleitos, representing a young athlete holding a spear, which exemplifies his principles of proportion and symmetry.
Canon: A set of rules or standards established by Polykleitos for representing ideal human proportions in sculpture, influencing generations of artists.
Classical Art: The art produced in ancient Greece and Rome, characterized by its emphasis on proportion, balance, and realistic representation of the human form.