9.2 Lysippos and the new canon of proportions

Lysippos revolutionized Greek sculpture in the 4th century BCE with his new canon of proportions. He created slender, elongated figures with smaller heads, emphasizing naturalism and fluid poses. This marked a shift from the muscular, stocky figures of earlier periods.

Lysippos' style greatly influenced Late Classical sculpture, setting new standards for depicting the human form. His works, like the Apoxyomenos, showcased athletes in relaxed, everyday poses, adding realism and expressiveness to Greek art. This approach humanized athletes and celebrated physical beauty.

Lysippos and His Sculptural Style

Lysippos' Innovations in Sculpture

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  Alexander the Great, marble copy of the original by Lysipp… | Flickr View original

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  Sculpture of an Athlete in the style of Lysippos Roman 75-… | Flickr View original

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  'Apoxyomenos' detail, Roman copy | Sculpture Greek Lysippus;… | Flickr View original

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  Alexander the Great, marble copy of the original by Lysipp… | Flickr View original

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  Sculpture of an Athlete in the style of Lysippos Roman 75-… | Flickr View original

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Top images from around the web for Lysippos' Innovations in Sculpture

• 

  Alexander the Great, marble copy of the original by Lysipp… | Flickr View original

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• 

  Sculpture of an Athlete in the style of Lysippos Roman 75-… | Flickr View original

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• 

  'Apoxyomenos' detail, Roman copy | Sculpture Greek Lysippus;… | Flickr View original

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• 

  Alexander the Great, marble copy of the original by Lysipp… | Flickr View original

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  Sculpture of an Athlete in the style of Lysippos Roman 75-… | Flickr View original

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• Lysippos, a Greek sculptor active in the 4th century BCE, introduced a new canon of proportions that deviated from the earlier Polykleitan canon
• Created a new standard for the ideal male figure characterized by more slender and elongated proportions compared to the previous muscular and stocky figures
• Figures featured smaller heads in relation to the body, typically around one-eighth of the total height, which added to the overall elegance and refinement of the sculptures
• Emphasized naturalism in his works, depicting figures in more relaxed and fluid poses that captured the essence of human movement and expression (Apoxyomenos)

Lysippos' Influence on Late Classical Sculpture

• Lysippos' innovative style had a significant impact on the development of Late Classical sculpture in ancient Greece
• His canon of proportions became widely adopted by other sculptors of the period, setting a new standard for the representation of the human form
• Lysippos' emphasis on naturalism and the depiction of figures in more dynamic poses influenced the direction of Greek sculpture towards greater realism and expressiveness
• His works, such as the Apoxyomenos, served as exemplars of the Late Classical style and inspired subsequent generations of sculptors

Apoxyomenos and Athleticism

The Apoxyomenos Sculpture

• The Apoxyomenos is a famous bronze sculpture created by Lysippos, depicting an athlete scraping oil and dust from his body with a strigil (a curved metal tool used for cleaning)
• The sculpture exemplifies Lysippos' new canon of proportions, with its slender and elongated figure, smaller head, and naturalistic pose
• Captures a moment of everyday life, showing the athlete in a relaxed and casual stance, rather than in a heroic or idealized pose
• Demonstrates Lysippos' mastery of bronze casting, a technique that allowed for greater detail and realism in sculptural representation (fine details of hair and musculature)

Athleticism and Dynamism in Lysippos' Works

• Lysippos' sculptures often depicted athletes and emphasized the athletic ideal of the male body, celebrating the physical prowess and beauty of the human form
• The Apoxyomenos and other works by Lysippos capture a sense of dynamism and movement, conveying the energy and vitality of the figures
• Lysippos' attention to the details of musculature and anatomy, combined with his innovative proportions, created highly realistic and lifelike representations of athletes in action
• The depiction of athletes in moments of rest or everyday activities, such as the Apoxyomenos cleaning himself, added a new dimension to the representation of athleticism in Greek sculpture (humanizing athletes)