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Aphrodite of the Agora. Background. Sculptor: Phidias? Agorakritos? Pentelic Marble 1 st century BC Roman copy 1.72 meters (5’8”) (would have been larger than life when complete) Dans la Louvre Sculpted in parts, then put together; hence why the head is missing. Drapery.
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Background • Sculptor: Phidias? Agorakritos? • Pentelic Marble • 1st century BC Roman copy • 1.72 meters (5’8”) (would have been larger than life when complete) • Dans la Louvre • Sculpted in parts, then put together; hence why the head is missing
Drapery • Effectively see through- very thin • Falls very naturally • Belt draws dress in; creating yet more naturalism • Extra folds around the right knee and left arm create variety and remove symmetry
Pose • Exaggerated, more feminine, slightly haughty/ arrogant • CONtroPOSto • Chest and bottom stuck out to be more pronounced
Body • More revealed than previous Greek art • Womanly curves are no longer just eluded to- they are actually there • Breasts- although covered can still effectively be seen, and they’re pretty good- very pronounced- affect the fall of the chiton • Belt helps create a proper hourglass figure • Bellybutton can be seen • Legs are fairly invisible- a cultural elusion? • Young/ Goddess • ‘well aware that wet or wind blown drapery can be just as effective as nudity’ - Spivey
Greek Female Statuary • ‘I would rather see her lovely walk and shining sparkle of her face than the chariots of the Lydian's and armed infantry fighting’- Sappho • ‘see themselves through male eyes’- Carol Duncan • ‘the element of voyeurism her is undeniable... what has been characterised a the “male gaze”’ - Spivey • ‘Aphrodite will be shown to respond to the male gaze- gathering up her dress, or shielding her breasts or genitals’ - Spivey • Favourite way for artists to depict females was for them to be washing • ‘Misleading to characterise this statue as some sort of ancient pin up girl’ - Spivey
Culture • Somewhat of a taboo in Greek culture against nudity- evidence to suggest that women remained clothed during sex. • Stories of Gyges, Periander, Actaeon • Cult of Aphrodite (later) • Aphrodisia- art of making love • Aphrodisiazein- the action • Sexual revolution after Persian War? • 1000 priests of Aphrodite’s temple in Corinth by Augustan Period