Transcript The New York Kouros

The New York Kouros
By Ryan Badke L6P
Key Facts
• Archaic statue from around the 7th
Centaury BC. Carved in Attica. (590 – 580
BC)
• Life size statue at around 1.85m in height
(6ft)
• Made of naxian marble
Context and function
• Based of ancient Egyptian designs.
• Found along a road from Athens to Cape
Sounion. Found in a tomb stone of a young
boy who died young or fell in battle.
• Its meant to represent perfection in manhood.
• The Kouros style of statue was believed to
serve as grave markers.
Greek Kouros next to Egyptian Statue
History of the statue
• Archaic statue from around the 7th Centaury BC. Carved
in Attica.
• It was stored in a tomb for over 2,000 years.
• It ended up in New York after being bought in 1985 for a
sum of between $9 and $12 million dollars, after a year
of restoration it was put on display. The wall panel reads
“Circa 530 B.C. or modern forgery.”
Korus style
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A Kouros is a male nude statue.
They have their left foot forward
Clenched hands
High arched eyes
Stylized knees
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Smiling
Beaded hair
Very well toned muscles
Arms by side
Archaic style
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Archaic smile
Beaded hair
Restrictive movement
Very geometric
Basic design
Small movement
Ear shape
Key points about it
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Naked apart from a choker and a head band
A first for Greek free standing statues
Made from Naxian marble
Made so it is balanced and can stand on its
own
• Was originally painted
Geometrics
• Split into 5 main
sections: Head, Chest,
Abs, Pelvis and legs
• Uses shapes and
images to show muscle
and body structure.
• Uses etching techniques
to show muscles. Muscle
definition e.g. abs are
carved in.
• Looks like a basic stick
figure.
Flaws
• The muscles are slightly out of proportion.
• Ears are too far back.
• Despite being free standing and left leg
forward, it looks very rigid, but it was a
first in ancient Greek statues.
• Proportions on the lower torso and hips
are out.
• Has an hour glass figure, not a typical man
figure.
• From the side the bum comes too far out
and the back dips to far in.
• The eyes are huge in comparison to the
face.
• Muscles that don’t exist are present.
• Stretched face to incorporate for the
middle of the body to be the belly button.
What does Woodford say? (page 42)
• “… the whole statue was knit together in a
network of calculated and interlocking
patterns.”
• “The Greek sculptor has produced and illusion
of a figure standing on his own two feet.”
QUIZ TIME
• Question 1)
– What period of art was the New York Korus from?
And what date was it believed to be made in?
– Answer – Archaic period, 590-580 BC
QUIZ TIME
• Question 2)
– Where was the statue thought to be carved from? And where
was it found?
– Carved in Attica, found along a road from Athens to Cape
Sounion.
QUIZ TIME
• Question 3)
– How tall was the statue and what was it made of?
– 1.85m high, made of Naxian marble
QUIZ TIME
• Question 4)
– What does this statue represent, and where was it designed
to be displayed?
– It represents male body perfection, it was designed to be
displayed in a tomb site.
QUIZ TIME
• Question 5)
– The museum in which this statue is situated in has been
accused of what?
– Forging the statue
QUIZ TIME
• Question 6)
– How do we know this statue is a Korus?
– Smile, left leg forward, nude male, clenched hands, stylized
knees, beaded hair, well toned muscles, arms down by side
QUIZ TIME
• Question 7)
– How do we know this statue is from the archaic period?
– Geometric patter, little movement, little detail, smile, beaded
hair, ear shape
QUIZ TIME
• Question 8)
– What was the statue wearing?
– A choker and a head band
Thank you for listening