Hermes Carrying the Infant Dionysos
Sculpture has been a very important part of art history throughout thousands of years. For the past few months I have viewed many different kinds of sculpture, including Greek archaic sculptures, Greek classical sculptures, Greek Hellenistic sculptures and Roman sculptures. All of the sculptures that I have seen and analyzed have very interesting characteristics, but the one that I have analyzed most recently was the most fascinating. Hermes carrying the infant Dionysos, by the artist Praxiteles, was sculpted circa 350 B.C., and the copy that I analyzed, circa second century B.C. This sculpture was from the Greek classical period and is originally from Greece. The original can be seen in the Olympia Museum in Greece, and the replica that I have viewed is in the Sojourner Truth Library on SUNY New Paltz campus.The sculpture of Hermes carrying the infant Dionysos was a very interesting work of art to look at and analyze. I have viewed this sculpture by means of slides on a flat surface, but after seeing the actual sculpture, I was amazed. When I first approached it, its size was shocking. I was unaware that this figure stood so tall. Hermes and Dionysos together were approximately seven to seven and a half feet tall, and
As most of Praxiteles' sculptures were, this sculpture was originally made of marble, but the copy viewed was made of plaster cast. Hermes posture was rather relaxed, with one arm reaching upward, and the other arm bent at the elbow, holding Dionysos. The clothing worn by Hermes and Dionysos was scarce. Both were nude, which was typical during this time period, and Praxiteles was actually the "inventor" of creating nude sculptures. Although the two figures are nude, Hermes is wearing sandals, and the drapery is partially covering Dionysos' legs. Hermes hairstyle is short, curly and unfinished looking, while Dionysos' hair is very vague. Many sculptors had many different techniques during the classical period in Greece. Praxiteles, the great one, the "inventor" of nude sculptures, created an astonishing and fascinating sculpture Hermes carrying the infant Dionysos. And only after seeing this work of art in person, and analyzing it have I realized it's truly a great work of art. With it's dramatic eyes, fascinating stance, and change in line from painterly and smooth to linear and drastic, this work of art definitely shows why Praxiteles was considered so great in the early centuries. Hermes carrying the infant Dionysos was definitely enlightening to learn about and more interesting to look at and enjoy. Another work of art by Praxiteles, called the Bartlett Aphrodite, had the same traits almost exactly, especially the dramatic, shadowy eyes. Many artists during this time period tried to imitate Praxiteles' style. This is evident in the sculpture Goddess From Chios. The traits in this sculpture are much more exaggerated. The forehead, for example, is more curved, the cheek bones are neglected, the nose is flat, and the top of the head is in the shape of a triangle. Bronze was used because of its ability to look fluid and flexible, and then the Romans made copies of these sculptures in marble. By replicating the sculptures into marble, supports had to be added, which is evident in Hermes carrying the infant Dionysos. Sculptures during the classical period were also very complex, but at the same time casual, and they were also harmonious, rhythmic, and proportional. Classical sculpture was a bi
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Approximate Word count = 1504
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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