Doryphoros Michelangelo Analysis

In the early Archaic period, the Greek sculptures were very similar to the Geometric art period. As the Greeks are being exposed to other art, they started to make their statuary look more like a real human beings instead of the gods with no facial structure. During the New York Kouros, the Kroisos, from Anavysos, Greece, statue is a good example of how the statue of a young male, posing in a natural stance. With closed hollow eyes, no expression on his face.

Political figures in art has always been an important part of our history, culture and artistic representation, Roman and Byzantine art is a classic case of these representations. The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius and Justinian as World Conqueror are two examples that demonstrate the power and prestige of these political authorities. First, Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius from the Roman, Italy (173-176 CE) measures 11’6” high, cast in bronze. Secondly, Justinian as World conqueror from Byzantium period measures 13” x 11” entire panel, center panel 7” x 5” and 1” deep. The creator of the equestrian statue is unknown, however, the creator of Justinian’s ivory relief was probably made by the imperial work of Constantinople.

As mentioned before, ancient Greece was inspired by the human body, and how beautiful it is. The origin of sculpting and modeling the human body started there in Greece. The sculpture called "Discobolus" is one of the most well-known works of art ever created. Typically, an easy way to know if a work of art is famous, inspiring, or simply amazing is if it has been replicated. Discobolus has been (Document 9).

According to Getty.edu, the art piece was named after Lord Lansdowne, a British noble who displayed the statue in his estate in London. The origins of the statue are unknown but speculated to be a Roman copy made from the famous school of Polykleitos. Workshops during ancient times tasked aspiring students with the menial labor of creating backgrounds and most of the form of sculptures; the masters finishing them up with the fine details such as the face and especially hands. Many Romans were quite fond of Greek culture and art, emulating and duplicating them on numerous occasions.

Creating an amazingly life-like appearance to its sculptures, not only demonstrated, in my mind, a higher intelligence, but is defiantly a tribute to their focus on superior strength and fitness. Although the realistic style was soon changed to create an even more ideal human figure, the understanding of the human body and how to recreate it through art was only the beginning of Greece’s contribution to the “classical ideal.” After their rise to power, gained by their triumph over Persia, the Greeks again changed the way we see art. This time they turned to their knowledge of geometry, focusing on the creation of grand architecture as their medium.

Two very important historic buildings from the Greek and Roman civilizations, namely the Parthenon and the Pantheon respectively, are worthy of academic exploration. An analysis of their function and style will help to put their design and features into perspective, and create a better appreciation for their emulation in Western civilization. These buildings possess very unique individual characteristic designs, which bears testimony to the societies from which they originate. However, they are also a resourceful database of knowledge in terms of their symbolism, rich heritage of their era and application to the present civilization.

He is a marble statue found in the ruins of the Athenian Acropolis, a bit smaller than life-sized, and is dated at 480 BC, a transitionary period from the Archaic to Early Classical era of Greek art. He is an emerging youth nearing the cusp of puberty, with a weight shift characteristic of this artistic period. Overall, the piece displays an incredible understanding of human physiology, and has moved away from the twisted perspectives and unnatural stiffness of earlier art. An anatomical chain of events occurs with the weight shift, and his overall musculature and skeletal structure are unforced and lifelike. He is the most famous Early Classical statue.

Uncontrolled emotionalism and shameful truth were now common characteristics to most of them. Still throughout the hellenistic, many sculptures were distinguished by their calmness, grace, and compassion for human suffering. The Ancient Greek sculptures were commonly made from stone or wood and very few of them are still existing to this day. Many were made to reflect the image of a freestanding human form even when the statue was of a god, and for this reason many of the sculptures were naked, the Greeks saw nudity as something beautiful. Other of the sculptures showed athletic figures, to essentially portray what the Greeks perceived as an ideal human and what it should look

Numerous historical painters have tried to imitate this idealized form, which has impacted the Renaissance and other art periods (Dolder, 2021). Greek sculptures are renowned for their beauty and attention to detail, inspiring modern

Michelangelo was the first Italian artist to depict the duo in such a position. Furthermore, Michelangelo differed from previous

Sculpture specifically focused on both human potential and achievements, plus the human experience. Firstly, the Greeks often sculpted humans instead of animals or monsters, which is human-centered enough. When they did sculpt gods or goddesses, these deities were anthropomorphic, having human characteristics. Classical sculpture used nudity to depict the ideal human form; subjects were often young male athletes or soldiers, epitomizing human potential and achievement. Hellenistic sculpture was more realistic and emotional, where the subjects were everyday people; this style focused on the struggles included in the human experience.

¬¬As Michelangelo’s David is made in years 1501-04, and is detailed from the penetrating veins, furrowed brows and the muscles, we can know that this sculpture was made during the High Renaissance, as in this period it is known to be during fifteen hundreds, and that in this period they make their art more detailed than in ancient Greek and Rome to make it look more realistic. On the other hand as Bernini’s David is made during 1623-24, extra details in both face and drapery, and the movement depicted, we can know that this sculpture was made during baroque art period, as in this period they used exaggerated motion and details to produce drama, tension, and grandeur in art, and is known to be during sixteen hundreds. In conclusion, as Bernini’s David is made during the Baroque period, where it used to be more detailed and highlights motion, as we noticed in the sculpture; unlike Michelangelo’s David which is made during the renaissance period, where it used to be detailed but not much and didn’t depict movements. From those differences that are between both sculptures and there periods we can determine that Bernini’s David is more expressive than Michelangelo’s

The Greek sculptures reach the new height of beauty, not only because the mastery of the technique, but also the fascination of human body. Greek art uses the outer appearance to reflect the inner power, it is the representative pattern of western art. The myth inspires the creation of sculpture. The fantasy of nature and society and the admire of god’s shape and personality makes the sculpture more multiple and abundant.

The sculpture Doryphoros or “Spear Bearer” was created by sculptor Polykleitos in the Early Classical Period around 450-440 B.C.E out of bronze but was later recreated out of marble material. The ancient Greeks thought the human body was perfect, not the body itself, but how the mathematical proportions of every part of the body were in perfect relationship to the others. Polykleitos set out to capture what would perfect ideal beauty be? The idea that you could create a perfect body based on math was part of a bigger set of beliefs for the Greeks.

In both sculptures the hair is deeply carved and is a vivid feature of the busts. The detail of realism in David’s left hand we can see his veins on his hands when he is holding the slingshot and his ribs near the chest. In the bust of Commodus we can see the similar detail of his hands especially the joints above the knuckle area and how realistic it looks when he’s holding the apples and Hercules club on his. In both busts chest, arms and face are sooth. In both busts these sculptures have the portrait of emperor Commodus and the small town hero David as musculant where as in real life they weren’t this is done because Romans believed that the god made us humans and by showing David and Commodus as being musculant hey are portraying them as gods and God were portrayed to be musculant and strong.