Polykleitos

Definition

Polykleitos was a prominent sculptor of ancient Greece, known for his influential work in creating the ideal human form through a set of proportions and a focus on naturalism. His sculptures exemplified the movement and balance of the human body, setting the standard for later artists during the High Classical period and beyond.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Polykleitos is often considered the father of classical sculpture due to his innovative approaches to representing the human body with a focus on idealized forms and proportions.
2. His most famous work, the Doryphoros, exemplified his ideals by combining physical beauty with a sense of dynamic movement, showcasing a perfectly proportioned athlete.
3. Polykleitos wrote a treatise called 'Kanon,' which detailed his theories on proportion and symmetry, influencing generations of artists after him.
4. He emphasized contrapposto, a pose where one part of the body is turned in opposition to another, creating a more relaxed and natural stance in his sculptures.
5. His work marked a significant transition from the more rigid and stylized figures of the Archaic period to the more naturalistic representations found in Classical Greek art.

Review Questions

• How did Polykleitos' approach to proportion and movement influence later Greek sculptors?
  • Polykleitos' approach to proportion and movement established a foundational standard that later Greek sculptors built upon. His Canon of Proportions provided a mathematical framework that artists used to achieve idealized forms in their works. This influence is evident in the sculptures of Lysippos and others, who adapted Polykleitos' principles while introducing their own innovations to create dynamic and expressive figures.
• In what ways does Polykleitos' Doryphoros represent the shift towards naturalism and idealism in Greek art?
  • The Doryphoros is a prime example of how Polykleitos embraced both naturalism and idealism in Greek art. The statue depicts an athletic male figure in a relaxed yet dynamic contrapposto pose, showcasing realistic musculature and anatomical precision. This move away from the more rigid forms of earlier periods highlights the emerging desire for lifelike representation while still adhering to idealized proportions that reflect beauty.
• Evaluate the significance of Polykleitos' contributions to sculpture within the broader context of Classical Greek society and its values.
  • Polykleitos' contributions to sculpture were significant not only for their artistic innovations but also for their reflection of Classical Greek society's values. His emphasis on idealized human forms embodied cultural ideals surrounding physical perfection, athleticism, and balance, which were central to Greek identity. Through his work, Polykleitos influenced notions of beauty that permeated art and philosophy during this time, shaping how Greeks viewed both the human body and their pursuit of excellence.

Related terms

Canon of Proportions: A set of ideal mathematical ratios in art and architecture that define the proportions of the human figure, widely attributed to Polykleitos.

Doryphoros: A famous statue by Polykleitos, also known as the 'Spear-Bearer,' which exemplifies his canon of proportions and serves as a model of classical beauty.

Chiaroscuro: A technique in visual arts that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to give the illusion of volume and three-dimensionality, often seen in sculpture to enhance realism.