Although Greek sculptures were heavily influenced by early Egyptian art, the Greeks managed to develop their own style and take the sculpture to a new level, emphasizing on anatomy and human emotion. Myron (active 480-440 BCE) and Polykleitos (Polyclitus) (5th century BCE) are two artists that I believe created new innovations and "pushed the envelope" in depicting the human form.
Myron was noted to be one of the greatest sculptors during the Early Classical period. He was mainly known for his realistic depictions of athletes. His most famous piece, which only exists in copies now (made by Roman artists), is a bronze figure of a disc thrower known as Discobolus. What is so captivating about this representation is how Myron managed to capture motion while combining harmony, rhythm, and balance within the piece. The facial features on "the Diskobolos show a progression away the simplified facial features of the Archaic Period. This sculpture's facial features are more developed and more realistic." (Tansey and Kleiner 125,145). Although there doesn't seem to be …show more content…
He was known for consistently working toward a new approach for Greek sculpture and also started a school for major sculptors that lasted many generations. Because of this, many artists that came after him followed his formulas to create new statues for many years. It is unclear what the actual formula (also known as canon) is down to the math, though the Doryphoros created by Polykelitos is the best example of the what the Greeks called symmetria. The statue also nicely demonstrates contrapposto, which is an Italian term that literally translates to "stand against," meaning that "his weight rests on his right leg, freeing his left to bend. In the process, the right hip shifts up and the left down; the left shoulder raises and the right drops. His body is brought into a state of equilibrium through this counterbalancing act."
Myron was noted to be one of the greatest sculptors during the Early Classical period. He was mainly known for his realistic depictions of athletes. His most famous piece, which only exists in copies now (made by Roman artists), is a bronze figure of a disc thrower known as Discobolus. What is so captivating about this representation is how Myron managed to capture motion while combining harmony, rhythm, and balance within the piece. The facial features on "the Diskobolos show a progression away the simplified facial features of the Archaic Period. This sculpture's facial features are more developed and more realistic." (Tansey and Kleiner 125,145). Although there doesn't seem to be …show more content…
He was known for consistently working toward a new approach for Greek sculpture and also started a school for major sculptors that lasted many generations. Because of this, many artists that came after him followed his formulas to create new statues for many years. It is unclear what the actual formula (also known as canon) is down to the math, though the Doryphoros created by Polykelitos is the best example of the what the Greeks called symmetria. The statue also nicely demonstrates contrapposto, which is an Italian term that literally translates to "stand against," meaning that "his weight rests on his right leg, freeing his left to bend. In the process, the right hip shifts up and the left down; the left shoulder raises and the right drops. His body is brought into a state of equilibrium through this counterbalancing act."