subject and the style.
Tribute procession of the Medes
Assyrian Empire, 8th century B. C.
Alabastrite low relief, height 1.62 m
The Louvre, Paris
The Aphrodite of Melos, like other Gods and Goddesses, demonstrates the useful influence that mythology had on the arts. In believing that man had been made in the image of Gods and that Gods had all the passions of men, that is, in creating Gods in their image, the Greeks tried to recreate the most perfect forms to represent divinities in a worthy manner: model, prototype, apotheosis of humanity.
Spinning Woman
Iran, 8th or 7th century B. C.
Bitume, low relief, 9.2 × 13 cm
The Louvre, Paris
We should not forget that the old Greek idols had not only been painted but were also dressed and had servants, priests and wives. They were, according to Ottfried Miller, washed, waxed, scrubbed, dressed and adorned with crowns as well as jewelry.
Aryballos. Vase in the Form of a Kneeling Athlete
580 B. C.
Museum of the Agora of Athens
Roman sculpture
Vanquished and conquered by Rome, Greece was reduced to the state of a simple province of the Republic and later the Roman Empire. It remained nonetheless a strong cultural model for Rome. Cicero, Pliny and Quintilien have brought us the names of all the important Greek sculptors; and yet they do not once quote a single Roman sculptor.
Hera of Samos
Middle of the 6th century B. C.
Marble
The Louvre, Paris
So, the Romans themselves or the Greeks who came to Rome would scarcely make any other works than those depicting Caesar, the impure wives of their Emperors, the favourites of the imperial Palace.
Kouros from Anavyssos
550 B. C.
Marble, height 2.14 m
National Museum, Athens
Art was industrialised, and pre-fabricated statues of emperors were produced to which they adapted heads according to their needs. After enriching itself with the spoils of the world, Rome fell for opulence and bad taste, preferring precious metals over simple art materials and richness over beauty.
Apollo in the Temple of Portanaccio of Véies
510 B.C
Sandstone
Villa Giulia National Museum, Rome
When Constantine transferred the seat of the new empire to Byzantium, he brought with him the gods and the heroes of paganism, converting Roman basilicas into churches. The first Christians showed a certain ignorance and deep antipathy towards the fine arts and started to destroy all the vestiges of Antiquity and the ancient world.
The Man and Wife Sarcophagus
Etruria, end of 6th century B. C.
Terracotta, height 114 cm
The Louvre, Paris
Italian sculpture
In 13th century Tuscany, an artistic renovation movement began that would bring sweeping changes to the art of sculpture. Nicolas de Pise was at the head of this movement, followed by his son Giovanni, his student Arnolfo, Agnolo di Ventura of Sienna, and later Donatello, Della Robbia and Michelangelo.
Harmodius and Aristogiton The Tyrannicides
477 B.C
Marble copy of a Greek original in bronze
National Archaeological Museum, Naples
Born in Florence in 1474, Michelangelo Buonarroti would often start work on a block of marble without any preparation, without any sketches, and without any models. He would sometimes run out of marble, or would sometimes cut the marble too deeply, which stopped him in his creation, leaving the block of marble only roughly worked.
Zeus and Ganymede
470 B. C.
Marble and polychrome sandstone
Archaeological Museum, Ferrara
However, none would complain as such work, like with any artist’s sketches, offers a look at the early thoughts and inspiration of the artist. His finished works offered an extraordinary perfection, such as the delicate forms found in Bacchus (1496–1497). About the same time that Michelangelo was living in Florence, and Sansovino in Venice, another Florentine, named Benvenuto Cellini (1500–1570), left Italy to work in Fontainebleau, just outside of Paris.
West Pediment of Zeus Temple in Olympia, centaur raping Déidamia
460 B. C.
Marble
Museum of Archaeology, Olympia
There he met another italian Gian Lorenzo Bernini from Naples. Lorenzo was an architect and artist credited with starting the Baroque style of sculpture. He was named ‘the second Michelangelo’ and it was he who came to be asked by Louis XIV to help to restore the Louvre.
Two Discus Throwers
Myron, ca. 450 B.C
Vatican Museums, Rome
It was Antonio Canova (1757–1822) who continued the line of impressive sculptors. His figures were apparently so realistic that he was accused of making plaster casts from live models. Among his most important commissions were the tombs of two popes, Clement XIII and Clement XIV.
