Hermes Carrying The Infant Dionysos
Sculpture has been a very important part of art history throughout thousands of years. For the past few months I have viewed many different kinds of sculpture, including Greek archaic sculptures, Greek classical sculptures, Greek Hellenistic sculptures and Roman sculptures. All of the sculptures that I have seen and analyzed have very interesting characteristics, but the one that I have analyzed most recently was the most fascinating. , by the artist Praxiteles, was sculpted circa 350 B.C., and the copy that I analyzed, circa second century B.C. This sculpture was from the Greek classical period and is originally from Greece. The original can be seen in the Olympia Museum in Greece, ...
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wide, including the base that Hermes was standing on.
As most of Praxiteles’ sculptures were, this sculpture was originally made of marble, but the copy viewed was made of plaster cast. Hermes posture was rather relaxed, with one arm reaching upward, and the other arm bent at the elbow, holding Dionysos. The clothing worn by Hermes and Dionysos was scarce. Both were nude, which was typical during this time period, and Praxiteles was actually the “inventor” of creating nude sculptures. Although the two figures are nude, Hermes is wearing sandals, and the drapery is partially covering Dionysos’ legs. Hermes hairstyle is short, curly and unfinished looking, while Dionysos’ hair is very vague.
Finally, the physical condition of the sculpture is remarkably decent-looking, considering it’s age. Hermes is missing pieces of his body, such as his right arm after his bicep, the left index finger and thumb, and his penis. Hermes’ big toe is chipped, and there are chips and scratches ...
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correct, proportionate and muscular. The only thing that does not seem proportionate is Hermes’ body as opposed to Dionysos. The texture of this sculpture is smooth except for the few sporadic chips, and there is no color, only the use of shadow.
The final component, movement, is very effectively done. Hermes is in a contrapposto stance with one leg forward and bent at the knee, and the right hip is higher than the left. His entire body is in an “s” shape curve, which is because his head is facing left, his right hip is raised and the left one is lowered, and his left leg is forward. This curve is a very effective way to bring the viewer’s eye from the top of the sculpture to ...
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"Hermes Carrying The Infant Dionysos." Essayworld.com. June 18, 2004. Accessed April 19, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hermes-Carrying-The-Infant-Dionysos/9693.
"Hermes Carrying The Infant Dionysos." Essayworld.com. June 18, 2004. Accessed April 19, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hermes-Carrying-The-Infant-Dionysos/9693.
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