Marble Statue Of A Youthful Hercules Analysis

The development of sculpture are closely associated the emergence of human society. It is the history of human identity recording the thoughts, culture, and aesthetic concept of the people at that age, also reflects the pursuit of one generation to another generation. Commemorative Portrait of a Chief (Lefem), an African wood sculpture from 19th to early 20th century, is a portrayal of one of the ruler of Bangwa chiefdoms . In contrast, The Marble Statue of a Youthful Hercules, a Roman marble sculpture from A.D. 69 to 98, Flavian dynasty, depicts the Greek Mythology hero: Hercules . While the idealized man form is the subject of two sculptures, both sculptures contain concepts of the power and strength. However, the Roman sculpture reflects …show more content…
Although the Marble Statue of a Youthful Hercules is a restoration piece was made to during the early seventeenth century , both Youthful Hercules and the Lefem are in excellent condition, and their poses lead the viewers walk around the sculptures. In the Marble Statue of a Youthful Hercules, the harmonious balance of Hercules’ body which is the classical idealization Contrapposto pose directly comes from Greek art, which shows the naturalistic beautiful body and giving the figure a sense of movement. The statue left upper body reach a little backward, hip thrust out against a the tree truck makes to supports the most of his left body weight, right leg spread out relaxed and another feet little backward. On the other hand, he bended left arm aside his chest so that the skin of the lion in Nemean forest pendent from his left forearm as the symbol of his godly prowess and strength . The left hand is extended out with the apples of the Hesperides . Meanwhile, his right arm bended in order to rest his right hand outward at the waist holding the downturned wooden club he cut in the Nemean forests that hiding behind him . These material accoutrements build up on the muscular body and over-life-size to show his strength. This pose representing Hercules brought the gold apples of Hesperides back and got tired after completed his twelfth labors, so he was leaning against the tree truck to rest. In the contrast, the Lefem’s arms bended at straight angle in enthroned position. Both hands are holding the tobacco pipes put on the bended legs, especially the long pipe in his left hand similar to Hercules’ wooden club represents the power. The large scale cap, the opening mouth and eyes widely open as if falling out on the face emphasizing the deterrent strength of the Bangwa ruler. There is no trace of the figure of the Lefem would be enthroned, but “[T]he