An Analysis of the Lansdowne Athlete

The statue has life size dimensions. It is the figure of a naked man around his early twenties. The naked eye can clearly see that his hair blends in with his ears and that its arms are missing. His face shows no expression. It looks like his face is foreign to his body. Part of his genital area is missing. The statue’s knees are more naturalistic then other statues in that era. An object on the left is used for support. Similar to most Roman statues, the athlete’s right leg is more pronounced and is placed in front of the other leg, making to seem as though he is mid-stride. He appears frozen in motion, a fact that becomes more apparent from a side view.

However, white marble is a considered a favorite of most artists. Some of the most famous type of white marble are mined around Greece, such as the Pentelli and Parian white marbles. Ancient sculptors preferred Marble as the main medium for use in sculpting due to its attributes. For example, the preference for white marble stems from the fact that it is largely resistant to wear and breakage. It is also soft, which allows artists to curve it seamlessly. The marking left behind are often removed by a flat chisel, to create a smoother finish. The same tool is also often used to add more minute details to the sculpture. Once the work of art is complete, a rasp and other abrasive forms of smoothing are used to remove the other marks left by the tool, leaving the final sculpture fine and smooth to the touch (Wootton, Russell and Rockwell 2013).

Even today, artists continue to use smaller tools, like chisels, rasps and files for the final touches (Nelson 2012). Subject The subject appears to be an athlete, who boasts of a strong masculine features. Like the Lansdowne Athlete, they would be placed in the gardens and various bathhouses of the Romans (Ancient Olympics 2012). Culture The Lansdowne Athlete is reflective of the Roman way of life. Sports and other forms of athletics were not considered a respectable occupation. Due to this, they would often be relegated to the people of the Lowe class, most of whom were poor individuals (Life in Roman Times 2006). Class divisions were a core part of the Roman culture (Gill 2018). He would be bestowed wealth, glory and even given a crown.

This indicates that athletes were highly valued by the Roman society. In fact their glory and physical attributes were considered the epitome of the human nature. Athletes were often physically fit. They had a masculine build, features that are highlighted in this artwork. Ancient Olympic Games. Ancient History Encyclopaedia, Mar 2018. Web. 28th June, 2018. <https://www. Ancient Olympics and Sports in Ancient Greece. Facts and Details, Jan 2012. Web. 28th June, 2018. <http://factsanddetails. <http://www. pbs. org/> Marble. Art History, 2017. Web. com/> Richman-Abdou, Kelly. How Marble Sculptures Have Inspired Artists and Captivated Audiences for Millenia. My Modern Met, Mar 2018. Web. 28th June, 2018. and Rockwell P. Stone working Techniques and Processes, Version 1. The Art of Making in Antiquity: Stoneworking in the Roman World, 2013. Web.