The Doryphoros :: Essays Papers

The DoryphorosDescriptionThis stone shape is a naked human-like figure standing six feet tall. The body is in chiasmos stance with the left leg slightly bent and the left radical slightly behind the right. The head is turned slightly downward and to the right, and its coat is approximately 1/6 of the body. The hair is cropped closely to the head with no part. The body has a defined musculature, however the forearms appear to be missing. there is an object behind and to the right of the right leg that is about 2 feet tall and 10 inches wide. Formal AnalysisThis sculpture seems to epitomize the exemplar male human form. All of the body parts seem dead proportioned and the muscles are beautifully defined as if the image were of an athlete. The image is young with a calm demeanor. The right missing forearm looks as if it apply to be resting at his side, while the left elbow was probably at a 90 degree angle, with the hand holding something. The slight bending in the le ft leg gives the impression of movement, as if the image was flash-frozen while walking. The counterpoised stance adds an air of nobility to the man. historic AnalysisThe sculpture is a Roman copy of the original classic bronze made by artist Polykleitos in 450BC. It is recorded that he made the Doryphoros as an example of perfect proportion. He wrote a intensity to accompany the statue called, The Cannon of Proportion, and countless artists copied the statue because of its perfection. This regal figure was named Doryphoros (Greek for spearbearer) because it originally held a long spear in its left hand.