Monday, June 20, 2016

Ancient Greek Sculpture in Marble

Figure of a Charioteer
ca. 320-300 BC
Greek marble sculpture
British Museum

Found in the ruins of the Temple of Athena Polias at Priene in Ionia  "... the headless charioteer, a less-than-life-size male standing figure draped in the long high-belted tunic associated with charioteers, such as the more famous bronze in the museum at Delphi."  Ian Jenkins, Greek Architecture and its Sculpture (Harvard University Press, 2006)

Funerary figure of a lion
ca. 400-390 BC
Greek marble sculpture
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Funerary figure of a lion
ca. 500 BC
Greek marble sculpture
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Funerary figure of a lion
mid-4th century BC
Greek marble sculpture
Metropolitan Museum of Art

"The sphinxes and other animals that guarded tombs in the archaic period tend to convey immobility and permanence. In classical lions, however, movement is implicit - they appear to be watching, lying in wait, preparing to spring."  curatorial notes, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pediment figures of a Lion killing a Bull
ca. 525-500 BC
Greek marble sculpture
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Figure of a Nereid from the Nereid Monument
390-380 BC
Greek marble sculpture
British Museum

The Nereid Monument, an Ionian tomb in the shape of a temple, featured statues of Nereids or sea-nymphs (as above)  daughters of Nereus, god of the sea  depicted in wet, wind-blown draperies. "We find in them strong echoes of the style of the Parthenon" – which had been completed only about half a century earlier.

Fragment of grave stele with young girl & birds
ca. 450-440 BC
Greek marble relief
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Fragment of grave stele with mourning family group
ca. 360 BC
Greek marble relief
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Kouros
ca. 520-510 BC
Greek marble sculpture
British Museum

Fragment from the later temple of Artemis at Ephesus
ca. 340-320 BC
Marble column-drum carved with relief figures
British Museum

"According to the story, Alcestis (above) offered to die in place of her husband, but was rescued by Herakles. She is perhaps here shown on the point of departure. The winged youth looking over his shoulder and naked, but for a sword on a strap across his chest, may be identified as Thanatos (Death) leading Alcestis, who follows arranging the elaborate folds of her mantle. To her proper left is Hermes, the only figure to be identified for certain. In his right hand he holds his herald's wand or caduceus. Hermes here seems to serve in his capacity of psychopompos, or leader of souls to the underworld."  Ian Jenkins, Greek Architecture and its Sculpture (Harvard University Press, 2006)

Kore
ca. 100-30 BC
Greek marble sculpture
British Museum

Colossal torso
ca. 160-130 BC
Greek marble sculpture
British Musesum

Draped female figure
ca. 350-300 BC
Greek marble sculpture
British Museum

Horseman
1st century BC
Greek marble relief
Metropolitan Museum of Art