Overview
This lecture discusses the concept of ideal human beauty in ancient Greek art, focusing on the Doryphoros sculpture and its use of mathematical proportions and contrapposto to represent the perfect human form.
Greek Ideals of Perfection
- Ancient Greeks believed in ideal human beauty based on mathematical precision and proportion.
- The perfect body was defined by the harmonious relationships among its parts and the whole.
- Beauty and harmony in art were connected to mathematical ratios, as seen in music (Pythagoras' discoveries).
The Doryphoros and Polykleitos
- The Doryphoros ("spear-bearer") is a Roman marble copy of a Greek bronze original by Polykleitos.
- Polykleitos called the sculpture "Canon," meaning a model of ideal proportions to be studied and replicated.
- The Doryphoros was intended to embody perfect human form, not represent an individual or soldier.
Context and Meaning
- The sculpture was found in a palestra (athletic training area) in Pompeii, possibly serving as inspiration for athletes.
- Romans admired Greek art and created many marble copies of original Greek sculptures.
- The Doryphoros dates to the early Classical Period, after the rigid Archaic Kouros figures.
Contrapposto and Naturalism
- Contrapposto is a pose where the figure’s weight rests on one leg, creating a shift in the body's axis for a natural, dynamic look.
- In Doryphoros, the right leg is weight-bearing, the left is relaxed; arms alternate relaxation and tension, providing balance.
- Unlike the symmetrical Kouros, Doryphoros introduces an S-curve, tilted axes, and a slight turn of the head, breaking symmetry.
- This innovation made sculptures appear more lifelike and present in the real world.
Humanism in Greek Art
- Greek art centered on human potential, careful observation, and capturing movement.
- These figures reflected idealized versions of humanity, existing within our world as models for contemplation and inspiration.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Polykleitos — Greek sculptor who defined ideal human proportions.
- Doryphoros — Sculpture representing the spear-bearer, embodying perfect proportion.
- Canon — Polykleitos' system for ideal body proportions.
- Contrapposto — A stance in which the weight is shifted to one leg, creating movement and balance.
- Kouros — Early Greek statue type, rigid and symmetrical.
- Pythagoras — Greek mathematician linking beauty and music to mathematical ratios.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review images of Doryphoros and Kouros to compare symmetry and contrapposto.
- Read about the Classical and Archaic periods in Greek sculpture.