This paper analyzes two sculptures; Agora in Grant Park, Chicago and the Dying Niobide in Palazzo Missimo, Rome.
Agora in Grant Park, Chicago
Grant Park is no doubt a landmark feature in Chicago. At the park’s southwesterly parts stands the Agora sculpture. It is not only a recent addition in the park but it also stands out among the installations at the park. Its height makes it easy to see from most points within the park. The sculpture is composed of 9-foot tall Greek-inspired human torsos with the heads cut off (www.cityofchicago.org, 2015). These torsos are also related to high-paced Michigan life and culture. The sculpture has 106 torsos, which are made of cast iron and placed facing various directions in the space (www.cityofchicago.org, …show more content…
It is believed to have been found in 1906 (Cartwright, 2013). However, the date of discovery is still under scrutiny as opinions vary about it. However, there is agreement that the sculpture was discovered on the Esquiline. This 5th century marble sculpture is based on a Greek mythology of a Niobe who had insulted the goddess Lato. The Niobe had supposedly thought of herself worthier than the goddess (Cartwright, 2013). The goddess Lato directed her offspring, Apollo and Artemis to shoot down Niobe's children. The image, most likely used as a pediment, represents a daughter of Niobe falling after Artemis shot her with an arrow as she escaped (Cartwright, 2013). The lady’s piece of clothing slipped off as she attempted to pull out her …show more content…
The first similarity about Agora and the Dying Niobe is that both are Greek sculptures. Being Greek, both sculptures are statues that depict ideals, and heroic and non-heroic acts. Both sculptures are also nude, a feature of most Greek sculptures. Being hero worshippers, the Greek preferred to make their sculptures in the nude, considering that they perceived nudity as beauty.
Consequently, both sculptures meet the Greek art feature of nude men, women, goddesses, and gods. However, whereas Agora depicts nude people of the World War II and the 1970s when the arts were made, the Dying Niobe represents mythical figures, gods, goddesses, or heroic ideals of men, characterized by good physical traits and perfect angelic beauty. While the Agora torsos lack faces, the Dying Niobe has an emotionless face, a key feature of early Greek mythological
Agora in Grant Park, Chicago
Grant Park is no doubt a landmark feature in Chicago. At the park’s southwesterly parts stands the Agora sculpture. It is not only a recent addition in the park but it also stands out among the installations at the park. Its height makes it easy to see from most points within the park. The sculpture is composed of 9-foot tall Greek-inspired human torsos with the heads cut off (www.cityofchicago.org, 2015). These torsos are also related to high-paced Michigan life and culture. The sculpture has 106 torsos, which are made of cast iron and placed facing various directions in the space (www.cityofchicago.org, …show more content…
It is believed to have been found in 1906 (Cartwright, 2013). However, the date of discovery is still under scrutiny as opinions vary about it. However, there is agreement that the sculpture was discovered on the Esquiline. This 5th century marble sculpture is based on a Greek mythology of a Niobe who had insulted the goddess Lato. The Niobe had supposedly thought of herself worthier than the goddess (Cartwright, 2013). The goddess Lato directed her offspring, Apollo and Artemis to shoot down Niobe's children. The image, most likely used as a pediment, represents a daughter of Niobe falling after Artemis shot her with an arrow as she escaped (Cartwright, 2013). The lady’s piece of clothing slipped off as she attempted to pull out her …show more content…
The first similarity about Agora and the Dying Niobe is that both are Greek sculptures. Being Greek, both sculptures are statues that depict ideals, and heroic and non-heroic acts. Both sculptures are also nude, a feature of most Greek sculptures. Being hero worshippers, the Greek preferred to make their sculptures in the nude, considering that they perceived nudity as beauty.
Consequently, both sculptures meet the Greek art feature of nude men, women, goddesses, and gods. However, whereas Agora depicts nude people of the World War II and the 1970s when the arts were made, the Dying Niobe represents mythical figures, gods, goddesses, or heroic ideals of men, characterized by good physical traits and perfect angelic beauty. While the Agora torsos lack faces, the Dying Niobe has an emotionless face, a key feature of early Greek mythological