Lysippus is considered the last sculptor of ancient Greek classics. His work is still admirable. Little is known about the artist himself. However, contemporaries knew that the only teacher recognized by the great Greek was nature.
How did the great sculptor begin?
At the dawn of his career, he worked as an ordinary brazier Lysippos. The sculptor, of course, dreamed of becoming someone great, but he did not have money for a teacher.
Perhaps the sculptor would have remained an unknown person who lived in the 4th century BC if he had not once heard a speech by a painter named Yevlomp. He assured that only nature can be the best teacher, and not man at all. The artist, after hearing this speech, drew conclusions for himself and went to observe nature.
It was Lysippos who at one time learned to create more believable sculptures. He made the legs of his characters longer and his head smaller. In addition, like Skopas, the artist worked on the transfer of movements in his works.
By the way, it is these great sculptors - Skopas, Lysippos - who are the last representatives of the ancient Greek classical era.
Features of work
On the one hand, the artist did not reject classical works. Heroism was traced in the works of Lysippus. On the other hand, the innovator revived the sculptures. His figures were more dynamic, even dramatic, and his faces resembled those of his contemporaries.
His favorite material was bronze. Unfortunately, this copper alloy was often smelted. If it weren’t for the Romans, today no one would know who the sculptor Lysippus is. His works can be studied only by copy. It is believed that Roman artists were more truthfully able to recreate the sculpture of the athlete Apoxyomen.
Returning to the peculiarities of the artist’s works, it is worth noting that he depicted people not as they are, but as what Lysippos himself represented. The sculptor of Ancient Greece most of all liked to work on characters. In addition, this is the first artist who broke the human body on a plane. Thanks to this, his works began to look lighter and more lively than, say, the monumental statues of Polycletus.
Sculptures of Lysippus
It is difficult to fully understand what the artist’s work looked like during his lifetime. Perhaps Lysippos the sculptor himself would be surprised at the Roman copies. Nonetheless, his works today are divided into more or less successful ones.
The most popular include:
- The statue of "Apoxyomen." This composition has gained worldwide recognition. Although the motive of the work is quite simple: the athlete after the competition cleans his body with a scraper.
- Sculptures depicting Heracles. All heroic deeds were immortalized. Today in the Hermitage you can admire the very first of them. There is a copy of the sculpture "Hercules fighting with a lion."
- "Resting Hermes". The god of Lysippus is very similar to an ordinary person.
- "Eros". Image of a proportional childish figure.
- The colossal statue of Zeus in Tarentum. The work reached 20 meters in height.
In addition, it is believed that Lysippos was also the first to turn to the portrait genre. The sculptor mainly worked on the reconstruction of the image of Alexander the Great. Also attributed to him are portraits of Socrates and the seven sages.
The famous Apoxyomen
The statue of Apoxyomenus is considered the most famous work that the great Lysippus left to us as a legacy. The sculptor, the photo confirms this, not only created a statue, but also managed to convey all the experiences of a tired athlete.
Even the illustration shows that Apoxyomen is a young man who is still excited after the fight. It is as if he is stepping from one foot to the other, and the hair, hand-tied to one side, allows us to guess that the athlete was sweating. It can be seen from the open mouth that the athlete had not yet had time to catch his breath, and in sunken eyes - fatigue.
At the same time, art critics are sure that the marble copy could not convey the entire depth of the work of Lysippus. Not only that, when in the 19th century the sculpture came to the Roman restorer Teranani, the artist suggested that there was a dice in the hand of Apoxyomen . Soon, archaeologists found evidence that in the original, the athlete simply cleans himself with a scraper. The dice was removed from the work.
Diverse "Hercules"
Almost every ancient Greek author had his favorite mythical hero. Lysippos once chose Heracles. Art critics believe that the artist in him saw his patron hero. And one wonders what qualities of Hercules were emphasized by the ancient sculptor Lysippus?
In some works, the hero fights, other sculptures show the tired demigod, in the third, the son of Zeus simply rests from the earthly hardships of life. You can trace the evolution of the Greek hero on three works of the author.
- "Hercules fighting the lion."
They say that if you go around the sculpture from four sides, then you can live the famous feat of the hero with him. Front viewer will appreciate the start of the fight. Hercules and the lion are ready for battle, both are confident in victory. Seen from the right side, it seems that the demigod is about to lose balance. From the back it becomes noticeable that the strength is on the side of the hero. On the left - the beast is almost slain.
- "Resting Hercules."
There is already a hero after a feat. He is tired and inactive. It seems that if the demigod did not lean on a club covered with a lion's skin, he would have fallen without strength.
- "Young Hercules feasts on Olympus" (figurine).
The hero has already completed all his exploits, completed his earthly journey, and finally got to Olympus. He is nonchalant, not in a hurry, but simply enjoying a feast.
According to historians, it was the third figurine that Lysippus presented to Alexander the Great. The ruler liked the work so much that until his death he did not part with it.
Gods in the works of Lysippus
The gods of ancient Greece also paid much attention to the great sculptor Lysippus. His works, on the one hand, make the inhabitants of Olympus more alive and close to people, on the other hand, it is immediately clear that they are celestials.
For example, "Resting Hermes." The god of commerce and eloquence sits on the edge of a cliff. He is tired, breathing heavily, it seems that this is an ordinary man who will now continue the difficult path. However, the buckles on his feet betray God, you can’t walk in them - you can only fly.
Statue of Satyr. The face of this horned god resembles an old man. He is bearded, his forehead is in deep wrinkles, his eyes are narrowed. The forest god rose on tiptoe and seemed to rush off somewhere. But if you look closely, you can see that he is dancing his bacchic dance, only restrained.
Poseidon in the works of Lysippos looks magnificent, as befits a lord. At the same time, the artist was able to portray the underwater king as part of the sea. Folds on the forehead, curls on the head, hand movements - everything resembles waves.
Zeus Lysippus very strongly stands out from the images of the main Olympic god in the works of other authors. His Zeus is not just the ruler of the world, but also a very tragic and even tired character. God, on whose shoulders lies a huge responsibility.
An attempt to portray a childish figure in sculpture
As you know, artists did not immediately learn to portray children. Usually they took as a basis the face and figure of an adult and simply “reduced” it. The first in Ancient Greece to break this tradition decided Lysippos. The sculptor portrayed a young Eros like a child.
The body turned out to be tender, not yet developed. His head is larger than that of an adult, puffy lips, a small mouth and cheeks - everything suggests that God is still very young.
At the same time, it is clear that Eros is tense. The boy tries to pull the string, but this is given to him with great difficulty. Now he was bent over, extended his arms and turned his head.
And here you can trace the find of the sculptor - the author depicts a figure in different planes. What gives the statue depth and space.
The court painter of Macedon
Contemporaries appreciated and admired the work of the nugget. Could not pass by Alexander the Great himself. The sculptor Lysippus was honored to become the personal artist of Macedon.
Unfortunately, in our time it is impossible to appreciate the work of the sculptor, depicting the commander in full growth. They, like other works, have not reached our days. The Romans also made good copies of them.
They say that the sculpture “Alexander with a spear” was the most famous. On it, the commander looked towards the left shoulder, with his left hand rested on a spear, while his right hand was on his side. Later, artists often borrowed the motive of this work, depicting kings and generals in the same position. All the great rulers wanted to be like the Macedonian.
Today, “Alexander with a spear” can be seen in the Hermitage. There is a copy of the great statue, however, its size does not exceed a few centimeters.
Portrait genre
More lucky portraits of Alexander the Great. Almost the founder of portrait sculpture in ancient Greece was Lysippus. The sculptor so skillfully portrayed the commander that Macedon did not allow anyone else to do his portraits.
In his works of the great king, Lysippos portrayed, on the one hand, as a strong personality, and on the other, as a person who lost peace and confidence. Often, the commander looks like a person who has experienced a lot and is tired of life.
The sculptor did not idealize his ruler. He portrayed a man, not a classic hero.
Art historians believe that Lysippos once blinded portraits of Socrates, the seven wise men and Euripides. These were not works from nature, but made from memoirs, descriptions, and early portraits drawn.
There is also reason to believe that the found Roman bronze head, a portrait of an unknown athlete, belonged to the hand of the great sculptor. Moreover, this is probably a self-portrait. Then the author showed a simple man with a rude face.
last years of life
It is difficult for our contemporaries to understand what kind of person the great sculptor Lysippus was. The artist’s biography is almost unknown.
According to legend, the ancient author died of hunger in a deep old man. Allegedly, Lysippus could not tear himself away from the last sculpture, so he forgot about physiological needs.
At the same time, historians are sure that his students, assistants and sons worked with him in the workshop. Therefore, it is difficult to speak about the exact cause of Lysippus’s death.
Another legend says that after each successfully sold work the great Greek put aside for himself a gold coin. After his death, it turned out that there were more than 1,500 coins.
The multifaceted work of the artist brought him fame outside of ancient Greece. Then they began to compare him with the greatest classic - Phidias.
The sculptor's contribution to world culture
Summing up, we can say that the artist “with easy movements of the hands” created a revolution in the world of art. Is he:
- changed the proportions of the body in the sculpture, lengthened his arms, reduced his head;
- learned in the movements of his characters to depict their inner impulses;
- tried to depict life itself in sculpture with its anxieties and doubts;
- in his works young heroes face and body look like children;
- opened the way to portrait sculpture;
- created the ideal of man - portrayed characters not as they are, but as the artist represented them.
Lysippos was the most famous sculptor of antiquity. In each work, the artist tried to portray the restless nature of his era. And he did it.