ANCIENT ART (DB) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ANCIENT ART (DB) - Essay ExampleThe statue exhibits a direct sense of balance of these attributes between its right and left sides the right planted and firm the left bent in motion, lagging behind as it moves forward implicitly offering a further balance between good (the right, or dexterous, side) and evil (the left, or sinister, side). Polyclitus attempt to harmonize these features came about as the apogee of Hellenistic sculpture, for not only had the goal become to portray man as naturally (the kallos, or beautiful) as possible, but also to capture the ideal physicality of man (the eu, or perfect). The Augustus of Primaporta statue models itself on the Doryphoros for that exact reason, with few exceptions Augustus is clothed, his right arm raised and extended, and the weight of this is counterbalanced by a downhearted cupid riding a dolphin attached to the back of the right leg. Roman sculptures during this period had continued the do of portraying their subjects as natural ly as possible however, statues of emperors are always idealized. Augustus is always depicted in his prime - despite his living into the sixties - and this statue in particular is modeled upon Polyclituss work as it had been recognized as the most accurate depiction of the ideal cultivate of man.Polyclituss work takes on the subject of mans form - not the reality, but the ideal. As such, its image springs from the fountainhead of the artists imagination and presumably knuckle unders no resemblance to each single individual. In contrast, the Augustus statue is most definitely intended to be modeled from and to represent the Augustus Caesar. Yet the extra is intentional, for the sculptures are meant to capture the inner character (ethos) of the subjects rather than a emotional state (pathos). Both bear almost identical controlled calm expressions with sharply defined air brow and nose. The statue of Augustus is meant to portray its subject as the ideal man of his time small wonde r that it should model itself upon the ideal male figure of the classicals.classic statues were used for three main purposes to portray deities (which represented ideals themselves), to represent the dead as grave monuments, or to cater to commissions for architectural or temple projects. Mythological representations represented mental ideals and natural subjects captured athletic ideals Greek sculptures were never intended to portray reality. The Augustus of Primaporta was meant to portray the perfection of Augustus. The arm raised in oratorical style was a pre-requisite skill for any Roman politician the cuirass (breastplate) indicates the subjects military command. The cupid is in direct reference to Augustus learn to trace his lineage back to Aeneas, while the scene on the cuirass indicates both Romes political dominance and forebode preference. Thus does Augustus portray himself as strictly adhering to Roman values and traditions to solidify his position in the favorite op inion.The Doryphoros attempts to capture a particular essence of humans. The Augustus of Primaporta, conversely, has a political agenda. Augustus Caesar had been seeking to distance himself from his