When we think of art, especially classical art, one of the first countries that inevitably comes to mind is Greece. During Classical Greece, both sculptors and other artists were deeply concerned with achieving beauty and naturalism in all their works. Today we'd like to review some of the most emblematic sculptures from this period. Will you join us?
Venus de Milo
The Venus de Milo, sculpted in the 1st century BC, is preserved in the Louvre Museum and is carved from white marble. It is one of the most representative statues of Greek sculpture and the Hellenistic period and represents the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite (whose name in Roman mythology was Venus). The sculpture is 211 cm tall and is made from the union of different blocks of marble. A truly curious fact? These unions are not perceptible in the sculpture itself.
Although its author is unknown, several historians agree that this could be Alexander of Antioch. Despite being such an ancient sculpture, it was discovered in the 19th century, during the final stages of the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire.
The Victory of Samothrace
This sculpture, also known as Nike of Samothrace, is located in the Louvre Museum in Paris and was sculpted around 190 BC. The work, which represents the goddess of victory, Nike, is 275 cm tall and is made of marble. Her feminine form, the way her clothing reveals her body, and the pose in which she is presented are very common characteristics among other works of female figures from this same period.
This work is attributed, according to several experts, to Pithokritos de Rosa and, like the previous sculpture, was discovered in the 19th century, this time on the island of Samothrace.
Hermes with the child Dionysus
This sculpture is currently housed in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. It stands 213 centimeters tall and is carved from the finest Parian marble. It was discovered in the 19th century, specifically in 1877, among the remains of the temple dedicated to Hera (goddess of family and fertility), where this sculpture served as an ornamental element.
This work depicts Hermes with the infant Dionysus and is attributed to Praxiteles. However, it is unclear whether it is an original work or a copy made from the sculptor's representation.
The exciting world of sculpture
We love to recommend works of art, both classic and more contemporary, that can serve as a source of inspiration for your next projects. Without a doubt, learning more about the work of other sculptors is very enriching and helps us understand the reasons for each decision they made when creating their most iconic works of art.
If you'd like to delve a little deeper into the world of sculpture, you've come to the right place! On our blog, you'll find tons of information on how to work and carve stone so you too can express yourself through this art. At Rock&Tools, we specialize in selling high-quality stone sculpting tools so you can accomplish whatever you set out to do. If you're not sure which tools you should get, we'd be happy to help. We look forward to having you join our community!
Image source: wikipedia.org
