Lecture 16 - Hellenistic sculpture I - Baroque

Question 1

E.g. Azura Herm

Answer 1

Roman marble copy of Lysippos original. Mouth slightly open, turn of the head, anastole on his hair. Typical Lysippian portrait of Alexander.

Question 2

E.g. Apoxymenos (scraper)

Answer 2

by Lysippos, Roman marble copy, Greek bronze original from 330 BCE. Shows Lysippan tilt of the head, hair slightly shorter than the Azura Herm, mouth slightly open, thin nose, staring eyes, typically Lysippan sculpture.

Question 3

E.g. Alexander as Heracles

Answer 3

Maybe by Lysippos, marble head, found in a shrine in Sparta, late 4th century BCE. Alexander compares himself to Heracles.

Question 4

E.g. So called ‘Alexander Sarcophagus’

Answer 4

Sarcophagus of King Abdalonymos, satrap of Sidon. Side A shows battle between Greeks and Persians with details of Alexander. Side B shows a lion hunt. Lion hunt could indicate eastern influence, Alexander is also wearing a lion hat. It shows actual people in context. Shows comparison with Heracles - first labor.

Question 5

E.g. Alexander Mosaic

Answer 5

Battle of Issus, tablinum from House of the Faun, Pompeii 1st century BCE. Likely to be a copy of a late 4th century BCE painting, Philoxenos. Significant as it allows the scene to recede into depth - extraordinary detail, maybe the only art that shows what he really looks like.

Question 6

E.g. Bust of Alexander from Pergamon

Answer 6

180 BCE. Shows all the Lysippan characteristics, but also new features: maturer hair, deep brow. It is meant to show ‘pothos’ (heroic yearning)

Question 7

E.g. Great altar of Zeus

Answer 7

Exterior frieze shows gigantomachy, east frieze shows Athena and Ge. Made from marble, 180-150 BCE. West frieze shows family of Poseidon, north frieze shows Nyx