Sculpture Analysis: Statue of Venus and Marble Head of a God

This work of art is from the Greek, Hellenistic period, c. 270- 250 B.C.E. This fifteen inch marble bust corresponds to a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty according to the typical facial features of the ruling family at that time. The Ptolemaic dynasty occurred when there was a succession of Macedonian Greeks over Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. until the annexation of Egypt by Rome and the suicide of Cleopatra VII in 30 B.C. Therefore, this head was most likely created to symbolize a Ptolemaic Queen. Its subject matter, the themes or ideas in a work of art distinct from its form, is not evident

I think about how the world had betrayed this women. They made this woman plump and empty, she does not even have a face. This statue is nude showing everything to the naked eye, she does not have a desirable body. This sculpture shows how much a woman was respected back in the day, which was very little.

From my observation at the Met, this sculpture is inside a medium glass and space. Also, it is by itself in the glass. It is a three-dimensional sculpture created by modeling and merging hard materials. Next to it there are other deities (Vishnu, Parvati, Ganesh etc.) and sculptors from the Chola Dynasty. The other works near it complements the sculpture as I have stated above they are from the same time period so, they are related to each other some way and

The Marble Statue of a Bearded Hercules was made by an unknown sculptor at the Early Imperial, also known as the Flavian period in circa 68–98 A.D. By analyzing this sculpture, this goddess portrays strength and masculinity and gives acknowledgement to his legacy which resolved a conflict between individual and society. This work of art also expresses an idea of showing a powerful goddess figure and a symbol of demonstrating the political authority of a leader. According to the Greek myths, Hercules was proven to be a legendary for his quality and courage; he experienced malevolent wraths and excessive fearlessness. He is a good hero overall, but he also has

The sculpture was found in the first 1st century in Rome. The statue shows Augusts standing in his armor in a pose to show that he is important. According to the video on smarthistory.org it says that he stood there for the sculpture to create a masterpiece of a portrait type work for him. The Contrapposto of the sculpture makes the body look even and realistic. The sculpture is very lifelike and looks like he could come alive and move around. There looks like there is a cupid riding a dolphin at his legs and the editor of smarthistory.org states that the dolphin became a symbol of Augustus big victory over Mark Antony and

This particular statuette represents the Virgin Mary and her child (Barbier). It is sculpted with gilded silver and has basse-taille reliefs on the pedestal, embellished with various stones and pearls. The statuette is approximately 2 feet tall and the Virgin is standing on a rectangular pedestal that rests on four small lions (Kleiner). The

The Venus of Willendorf is a sculpture that was sculpted out of limestone and stands to be 4 ½’’ tall. The figurine was most likely carved out of limestone because early pre-historic artists generally had to create art out of whatever materials they had available. The figurine is only 4 ½” tall is because it was common for pre-historic artists to carve small, hand held, portable figurines. The sculpture was found on the banks of the Danube River, an area where pre-historic hunter-gatherers were thought to have lived and traded goods with other civilians. The use of this piece of artwork is to portray the importance of women and fertility in pre-historic times because these features are ones that ensured the survival and future of mankind.

The statue has so many little yet powerful symbols that truly make it a unique and one-of-a-kind piece. The torch for example is a symbol that is used to represent enlightenment, liberty, and freedom. The illumination from this torch

It appears other minute details of the marble statue of Aphrodite have been damaged or lost, for example, the heat and base of her feet. Nonetheless, one can certify it is the statue of Aphrodite because of some of the figures that have been placed at her side. The characters beside the statue appear to represent icons commonly linked to Aphrodite. The dolphin symbolizes the birth of the goddess from the sea, and maybe that’s why people believed that she controlled animal fertility. Since the nose has broken off, it appears that the head is a mystery as to its finer and greater details.

The marble statue of Diadoumenos is a copy of the original bronze statue displaying a young man tying a fillet around his head. The original was created in c.a. 430 B.C. by a man called Polykleitos of Argos. Polykleitos was a Greek sculptor who worked during the mid-fifth century B.C. . he was one of the most famous artists of the ancient world. Polykleitos' figures are carefully designed with special attention to bodily proportions and stance. The statue of Diadoumenos has its thorax and pelvis tilt in opposite directions, setting up rythmic contrasts in the torso that create an impression of organic vitality. The position of the feet, (poised between walking and standing), give a sense of potential movement.

It is a very large piece made from Limestone. Limestone is a sedimentary rock which means it is formed by the accumulation of sediments, and it is very hard. The statue itself is not very detailed and is pretty simplistic. It is a statue of a human body. The statue is 71 in. (180.4 cm) which is

When examining the statue, there is an old woman bent and weary. Her posture helps clue us in, with her age and the state of her health. The figure is dressed in cloth that drapes off her body as she carries a basket that is filled with what we may think are offerings. On her head, there are vines that create a band around the top of her head used to signify the festival that was going on during that time. The specific detail that is seen on this statue persuades us to want to know the story of this woman. Doing so, the process involves lots of research about the time and art. During the hellenistic period, artists begin to introduce more inner beauty than physical beauty. There is an opportunity to learn more about the structure itself, then settle for what is given and seen.

Upon reviewing several pieces, I have come across two orphaned sculptures of interest: the Venus of Willendorf and the Apollo Belvedere. The Venus of Willendorf is a small Paleolithic female figurine that was discovered in 1908 in the village of Willendorf in Austria. The Apollo Belvedere, on the other hand, is a Roman marble copy of a Greek original that embodies the image of Apollo: the god of healing, archery, music, and youth. If we were to categorize these two sculptures as “Anthropomorphic Gods and Goddesses”, the Venus of Willendorf would not fit the category. Unlike the Roman sculpture, the Venus of Willendorf does not have enough contextual history to link its image to a god.

It’s not exactly known what the cultural meaning or purpose behind the statuettes is. However, it’s frequently suggested that they might have been used during rituals or served as a symbolic function. During my research for

Artemisia Gentileschi, Venus and Cupid, ca. 1625-30. Oil on canvas, 38 x 56 5/6 inches. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA.