Past Imperfect

Thursday, July 12, 2007

The Charioteer with cute little bum.

Head of Charioteer. His eyes follow you everywhere

11 comments:

kenju said...: He's very handsome, but the eyes are a little intense....LOL; 5:16 PM
Pat said...: Judy: I suppose it's partly from having no eye lashes.; 6:30 PM
f:lux said...: Both interesting pieces! But the length of that charioteer's right arm... And do you know anything about the bust, like who it is or where it came from (repro and/or original)?; 7:13 PM
Pat said...: F:lux: I'm fairly sure I got it from Delphi Museum but I fancy I may have seen the whole figute in Athens Museum. Below is info from Museum

Charioteer

'This is indisputably the masterpiece of the museum and one of the loveliest surviving works of ancient Greek sculpture. The statue is of bronze and is 1.80 m. high.

It belonged to a monument dedicated by Polyzalos, brother of the Tyrants of Syracuse, Gelon and leron, in honor of his victory at the Pythia of 478 or 474 BC. It comprised part of a large votive which also included at least one quadriga and, perhaps, a small groom.

The young athlete wears a long chiton belted above the waist and bound at the armpits by fine tapes. His head is crowned with a victor's filet and in his hands, only one of which has survived, he holds the reins. The facial expression is serious, noble and self-confident and the inlaid eyes are preserved in first class condition, add vitality and especial attraction. The folds of his chiton, which fall easily and naturally in the upper part of the body, while in the lower part they are all more or less identical and vertical, thus emphasize the tall, slender stature of the youth. There is nothing violent or furious in his stance, but simplicity, calm and controlled movement.

This outstanding statue, which is dated to around 470 BC, is a representative work of the Severe style of ancient Greek sculpture. Its creator remains unknown, though scholars have proposed the names of various important bronze sculptors, such as Pythagoras, Kalamis and Kritios.'
Well you did ask:); 8:14 PM
Sam, Problem-Child-Bride said...: Oh my! That tush! Those eyes! Greece is intense!; 9:18 PM
Pat said...: Sam: it's all of that and the best place to chill.; 11:13 PM
Anonymous said...: I LOVE the head....talk about an intense gaze!! I would love something like that in my bedroom LOL I have a macabre sense of humor like that though :)

Michele sent me tonight..and I love your blog...such interesting pieces of art! Thanks for sharing!; 7:52 AM
OldLady Of The Hills said...: I always forget there are oictures in another post...That is that Picassa...! (lol) I love the way his eyes follow you...

Forgot to say that living here in L.A. I have lived through quite a few quakes...that 1971(?) was pretty bad, and the 1994 was bo fun at all.....!

AND, Michele sent me to see you this early A.M. here in Los Angeles....Going off to Dreamland very soon, my dear Pat. And I hope you have a WONDERFUL Day...!; 10:23 AM
Pat said...: Hi Stephanie: sometimes his glare gets too piercing and I turn him sideways on.

Naomi: you're right about Picasa! I'd love to hear about the earth quakes if that isn't too goulish. That was my only experience of one. Do you have a sort of drill for them?; 12:50 PM
f:lux said...: Wow, thanks for the info pi, really fascinating!; 11:08 AM
Pat said...: f:lux: glad you found it interesting.; 5:22 PM