MIRONE E POLICLETO

Summary

This script discusses the famous ancient Greek sculpture 'Discobolus' by Myron, dating back to 450 BC. It highlights the artist's mastery in capturing a frozen moment of an athlete poised to throw a discus, showcasing balance, tension, and realism. The sculpture's equilibrium is a technical marvel, achieved without external supports, and it's renowned for its visual and physical balance. The script also touches on the contrast between stillness and movement, the artist's use of weights within the statue for balance, and the evolution of sculptural techniques towards greater naturalism. It compares various copies of the work, noting the differences and the challenges in replicating the original bronze's vitality in marble. The discussion concludes with the influence of Myron's work on later artists like Polykleitos and his 'Canon', emphasizing the mathematical proportions and harmony in sculpting the human figure.

Takeaways

• 🏺 The Discobolus of Myron is a famous ancient Greek sculpture, known for its numerous Roman copies, but the original bronze version is lost.
• 🤸‍♂️ The sculpture captures an athlete in the act of throwing a discus, representing a moment of peak concentration and tension before the release.
• 🗝️ Myron's skill in 'freezing' a moment in time is highlighted, showcasing the contrast between stillness and movement.
• 🎭 The sculpture is designed to be viewed from the front, where the balance and harmony of forms are most evident, reflecting the artist's mastery over three-dimensional space.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The statue's balance is achieved without external supports, which was a complex feat for the time, requiring internal weights to maintain equilibrium.
• 🤹‍♂️ The script discusses the evolution of sculptural techniques, emphasizing the increasing focus on anatomical realism and the depiction of movement.
• 👀 The facial features of the athlete are more realistically rendered compared to earlier styles, with attention to details like the eyes, lips, and nose.
• 🗿 The script compares various copies of the Discobolus, noting differences in craftsmanship and the artist's interpretation, which can affect the sculpture's authenticity.
• 🏛️ The copies are analyzed in terms of their historical context, with some being more faithful to the original bronze due to the skill of the copying artist.
• 🏺 The script also touches on the work of Polykleitos, another significant sculptor known for his 'Canon' and the Doryphoros, which represents the culmination of studies on the standing figure and naturalism.

Q & A

What is the Discobolus of Myron famous for?

The Discobolus of Myron is famous for capturing an athlete in the act of throwing a discus, specifically in the moment of maximum concentration and tension just before the release.

What is the significance of the Discobolus's pose in the sculpture?

The pose signifies a frozen moment, showcasing the athlete's physical and visual balance, which was a key aspect of classical Greek sculpture, emphasizing the equilibrium between the body parts and the visual harmony.

How did artists achieve balance in bronze sculptures like the Discobolus?

Artists achieved balance in bronze sculptures by using the technique of 'cire perdue', which allowed them to create hollow statues with internal weights to maintain equilibrium without external supports.

What is the 'Greek profile' mentioned in the script, and how is it depicted in the Discobolus?

The 'Greek profile' refers to the exaggerated and idealized facial features often seen in classical Greek art. In the Discobolus, this is depicted through the pronounced facial structure and the detailed, yet natural, rendering of the eyes, lips, and nose.

Why are there multiple copies of the Discobolus, and what do they indicate about the original bronze?

There are multiple copies of the Discobolus because the original bronze has not survived. These copies, made in marble, indicate the widespread popularity of the subject and provide insights into the original's appearance, although they cannot fully replicate the original's vitality and material characteristics.

What is the significance of the base and the 'puntello' in the marble copies of the Discobolus?

The base and the 'puntello' (support) in marble copies of the Discobolus are necessary because marble is heavier and cannot be rebalanced by internal weights like bronze. They provide the necessary support for the statue to stand without falling.

Who is Polykleitos and what is his contribution to the art of sculpture?

Polykleitos was an ancient Greek sculptor known for his work in bronze and his theoretical treatise, the 'Canon'. He is famous for his statue 'The Doryphoros', which represents the culmination of research on the standing figure and the principles of naturalism and proportion in sculpture.

What does the 'Canon' of Polykleitos propose regarding the proportions of the human figure?

The 'Canon' of Polykleitos proposes that the construction of the human figure should follow a series of precise proportional calculations, with the head as the fundamental unit of measure, and the body composed of multiples of this unit to achieve harmony and idealized forms.

How does the Doryphoros by Polykleitos exemplify the principles of Polykleitan sculpture?

The Doryphoros exemplifies Polykleitan principles through its balanced stance, with weight distributed on one leg, and its anatomical accuracy and naturalism, which are balanced with idealized proportions and a serene, impassive expression.

What is the term 'contrapposto', and how is it demonstrated in the Doryphoros?

'Contrapposto' refers to the pose where the weight of the body is shifted onto one leg, creating a dynamic balance between tension and relaxation in the figure. In the Doryphoros, this is demonstrated by the figure's stance, with one leg bearing the weight and the other relaxed, and the corresponding tension and relaxation in the upper body.