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The conquests of Alexander the Great had a
dramatic influence not only on the political
structure of the Classical world, but also on the
artistic landscape. The strict rules and
conventions that guided the aesthetic of the
Classical era were expanded upon to allow artists
to experiment with new forms and approaches.
While the gods and mythology remained the
dominant subjects, themes of everyday life
became increasingly popular. Overall, the
Hellenistic era can be characterized by a sense of
increased naturalism as opposed to the idealized
forms typical of the Classical age. In effect,
Hellenistic naturalism can be viewed as a
reaction to the works of the 4th Century master
sculptors such as Praxitelis and Lysipos who
sought to depict the human figure in more
realistic terms. Sculptors and painters
manipulated the effects of light and shadow to
create dramatic compositions full of energy and
emotion that depicted their subjects in moments
of extreme tension or reflective meditation. The
Hellenistic age remains one of the most
important period in the history of Western Art,
whose impact could be felt almost two thousand
years later during the Baroque style of 17th
Century Europe.
The surface of this gorgeous marble sculpture
has been covered with a thick encrusted patina.
The forms of the encrustation indicate that the
work was submerged underwater for a significant
portion of its history. Parts of the surface, in
fact, seem to be carved from a coral reef. Some
of the most important works of Ancient Greek art
have been found underwater, including the
famed Riace warriors. From the positioning of
his limbs, we can tell that this young man was
originally standing with his weight resting on his
right leg. His left thigh projects slightly forward
and his left shoulder is slightly lower than his
right. In a typical Hellenistic fashion, the artist
has chosen to represent this man in a moment of
repose. Was this work once placed atop a
seaside cliff, only to tumble into the waves
during a natural disaster or perhaps a period of
civil unrest. In some cases, works of art have
been buried underwater when ancient vessels
transporting commercial merchandize crashed at
the bottom of the sea. Is it possible that this
work was in the midst of being transported from
the sculptor’s studio to the residence of a
faraway patron? Resurrected from the deep, this
magnificent sculpture is a testament to the
creativity and innovation of the Hellenistic era.
- (X.0397)
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