Polykleitos
Biography of Famous Greek Sculptor Polyclitus, High Classical Sculpture of Ancient Greece: Kanon of Polykleitos.
Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art - HOMEPAGE

The Doryphoros or Canon of Sikyon,
Marble copy from Pompeii (440 BCE)
(Museo Archaeologico, Naples)

Polykleitos (5th century BCE)

A Greek sculptor of the High Classical Period, Polykleitos (Polyclitus) is considered one of the most important and greatest sculptors of classical antiquity, along with Phidias, Myron and Kresilas. He worked mainly in bronze and his most famous works, none of which survive today except in replica, include his Kanon of Polykleitos and his Amazon figure.

Biography

As with so many artists from Classical Antiquity, little detail is known of Polykleitos' life. Born in Sicyon or Argos, according to Pliny, he was taught the art of sculpture by Ageladas of Argos - the same teacher who taught both Phidias and Myron. According to Greek opinion at the time, he was considered the equal of Ageladas.

BEST WORKS OF SCULPTURE
For a list of the world's top 100
3-D artworks, by the best sculptors
in the history of art, see:
Greatest Sculptures Ever.

FAMOUS GREEK SCULPTORS
For biographies of the main
artists known to us from the
sculpture of ancient Greece
please see the following:
Phidias (488-431 BCE)
Myron (Active 480-444 BCE)
Callimachus (Active 432-408 BCE)
Skopas (Active 395-350 BCE)
Lysippos (c.395-305 BCE)
Praxiteles (Active 375-335 BCE)
Leochares (Active 340-320 BCE)

EVOLUTION OF SCULPTURE
For details about the origins
and development of the "plastic
arts", see: History of Sculpture.

Polykleitos consciously worked to create a new approach to sculpture and wrote a treatise (Kanon) to explain his methods and principles. Using these principles he designed the 'perfect' sculpture known as the Kanon of Polykleitos. The sculpture emphasised a counterbalance of tension and relaxation through shoulder and hip movement - known as chiastic balance. The bronze has not survived but references to it in antiquarian books imply that its main principle was the expression of the Greek word 'symmetria'.

Standard Proportions For Sculptures

Polykleitos insisted that a statue should be composed of clearly definable parts, all related by a system of ideal mathematical proportions and balance. He expressed it in terms of ratios established by Pythagoras for the perfect musical scale: 1:2 (octave), 2:3 (harmonic fifth), and 3:4 (harmonic fourth). Polykleitos theories became the standard proportions for sculptors for generations. Although the original no longer exists, a copy, called the Doryphorus or Spear-Carrier can be seen in the National Archeological Museum in Naples. Another copy of Polykleitos' work, which represents the same use of athletic, muscular proportions, includes Diadumenus, at the National Museum, Athens.

CLASSICAL PLASTIC ARTS
For details of Greek art and
later styles of Roman art, see:
Greek Sculpture
Daedalic
Archaic Sculpture
Early Classical
High Classical Sculpture
Late Classical
Hellenistic Greek Sculpture
Greek Statues, Reliefs
Roman Sculpture
Roman Reliefs

Famous Statues

One of Polykleitos’ major works, his Amazon figure for Ephesus, was regarded as superior to those by contemporary sculptors Phidias and Kresilas. Another of his works, which was praised in classical times and compared favourably with Phidias' Zeus, was his colossal gold and ivory Hera statue made for a temple at Argos. Today we only have a description by Pausanias and a rough representation on Roman coins as to the look and pose of the statue. Other art works attributed to Polykleitos include Hermes, at one time placed in Lysimachia (Thrace) and Atragalizontes (Boys Playing a Knuckle-bones) which was bought by the Emperor Titus and set in a place of honour in his atrium.

Legacy

Polykleitos, along with his contemporary Phidias, were the first generation of Greek sculptors to have a school of followers. Polykleitos' school lasted for at least three generations and was mostly active in the late 300s and early 200s BCE. The Roman writer Pliny identified several notable artists who were defined, at the time, for their adherence to Polykleitos' principles of art and form. His best known pupils were Skopas (395-350 BCE) and Lysippos (4th century BCE). Polykleitos' son, Polykleitos the Younger was also a popular sculptor but won acclaim in the field of architecture. He designed the grand theatre at Epidaurus. While the principles Polykleitos applied to his art were much appreciated in his time, today's audience may be forgiven for thinking his fleshy figures lack charm or interest. Ancient critics sometimes reproached Polykleitos for the lack of variety in his works - he sculpted very few notable statues of deities. Although his field was narrowly limited - it was agreed, even in his own time, that in his field, he was unsurpassed.

• For more facts about plastic arts in Ireland, see: Irish Art Encyclopedia.
• For details of sculptors in Ireland, see Irish Sculpture.
• For information about clay sculpture, see: Ceramic Art.

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