Delphic Charioteer Alexander Fribbins L6C

Single Facts Date: Around 480 BC Made: in Sicily (Now At Delphi Museum) Height: 1.80 M Mainly made of: Bronze Dedicated from the Phythian Games (Background knowledge in more Depth later)

Personality of Sculpture The sculpture exerts a feeling of calmness, and also shows the moment of when he reaches the crowd victorious. The eyes show us a feeling of focus and concentration but at the same time indirect power without really showing it as if it was emitted by the Sculpture all the time But.. It does show that he promotes an… Introverted personality (Woodford says)

Another fact One of the best known Greek Statues, and well of the best preserved bronze casted ones, it was also considered one of the fine examples of the ‘Severe’ styles (Severe is when Statues were supposed to present true life)

Drapery Shows the sculpture to be realistic. But surprising as women wears a chiton and that he’s not a naked man as you have seen so far. Very well detailed, this could imply that the sculpture is going though revolutionary changes in the Archaic Period (Which will be explained later..)

More drapery Drapey was much prized Figures before were all draped before, which is evidence as to why the Delphic Charioteer looks feministic. Went under the category of Xystis, a typical dress which all chariot racers wore, this explains why the statue looked very free unlike it’s Archaic cousins.

Materials Used 3 main materials; oynx(set in white enamel),Bronze, enamel (for eyes) and the lips of Reddish Copper Made by the Wax process direct and indirect process. This also involved clay being moulded around and bronze being poured in to create the shape of the statue.

Significance Showed the leap of the late Archaic to the Early Classical period, it promotes a good mixture of realism and idealism Showed archaeologists extent of Greek influence and Culture Shows a balance of stylised and Geometric representation and some realism within Sculptures

Background knowledge Came from the Island of Sicily Statue was commissioned by Polyzalus of Gela Was from the Phythian Games of 480 BC, Charioteer was buried in the earth following the earthquake of 373 BC Was discovered by the French in 1896

Faults of Statue Body was not balanced on one side, was in a Symmetrical stance until the middle torso. This still shows the Mechanical influence of the Archaic period but the Personality of the Sculpture is still symbolic of success and calm concentration and the break away to the Classical Period The legs also look too long to be realistic, but at the same time could emit the presence of authority and athletic ability

The feet More realistic than the kourai and showed a good balance for the statue, hence why it’s been standing for a very long time. It’s also more advanced than the Korais feet which implies that a lot of detail went into the Chariot, but it was not supposed to show off the Human anatomy

Woodford says… During the Archaic Period drapery was much prized for the decorative effects it could produce. In the early Classical Period there was a reaction away from this, and drapery became more simpler and avoided and care was taken to vary adjacent folds in their width, depth and if possible, direction.

Inscription “I was dedicated by Polyzalos, victorious with his horses, son of Deinomenes, to whom he brought happiness, oh glorious Apollo” Which was found at the base of the statue

Q1 How is this statue portrayed as Realistic?

Answer Drapey,xytis and Chiton, anatomy.

Q2 What is the eye and center of the eye made ouf of?

Enamel, and oynx for the center

Q3 Name a fault of the statue (Think about underneath the drapery)

The legs of the statue are too long to be realistic

Q4 What was it’s significance?

Showed the leap from the Archaic period to Classical period Was one of the best preserved Bronze statues