Works Cited: http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/aphrodite-known-venus-de-milo
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Aphrodite of Melos
Not all Hellenistic artists followed the descriptive
customs. Many actually turned to the past, creating an different style by
reexamining and borrowing features from earlier Classical styles and combining
them in new ways. By this time, Praxiteles and Lysippos were famous for their models, so many looked to their
works. This was definitely the case with the sculptor of the Aphrodite of
Melos, also known as the Venus de Milo. The figure recalls Praxiteles' work,
especially with the S-curve composition. The figure has heavier proportions of
High Classical sculpture, but the twisting stance and the strong projection of
the knee make this Hellenistic art. Similarly, the rich three-dimensionality of
the drapery, seemingly in the process of slipping off the figure, adds a note
of erotic tension, which is also a characteristic of Hellenistic. "The
Aphrodite of Melos is classical in essence, with innovatory features such as
the spiral composition, the positioning in space, and the fall of the drapery
over the hips (Louvre)." Because she is missing details, like her arms, no one quite
knows which goddess she could be portraying. According to whether she held a
bow or an amphora, she was Artemis or a Danaid. Because of her half-nakedness
and her sensual, feminine curves, many think she represents Aphrodite. She also
may have held an apple, an allusion to the Judgement of Paris, a crown, a
shield, or a mirror in which she admired her reflection. However, there is also
the possibility she might the sea
goddess Amphitrite, who was venerated on the island of Milo. So we might never
truly understand who she was supposed to be depicting, but this sculpture
definitely represents Hellenistic Classical art.
Works Cited: http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/aphrodite-known-venus-de-milo
Works Cited: http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/aphrodite-known-venus-de-milo
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