Louvre Musée THE MILETUS TORSO
Entresol DENON- SULLY FIN salle 3 FIN PERIODE ARCHAIQUE
EXPOSE LOUVRE: THE MILETUS TORSO
Male Torso
Dates from 5th c B.C.
Sculpted during TRANSITION PERIOD (between Archaic and Classic periods)
=Sculpture in the round
Made of Insular marble (from Paros ?)
It is 1,32m. high
Comes from Miletus: prosperous city of Asia Minor during the Hellenistic period.
Shows the innovations (radical evolution) brought to the representation of the male nude at beginning of Classical period, during “Severe” period.
(Severe style Period: 480–450 BC)
HISTORY and attribution of the Miletus Torso
Towards 480-470 av. J.-C.
Broken from Antiquity, restored in IInd c. B-C.
Then integrated in the scenery of the Roman theatre at Miletus, where torso was found.
In 1872, O. Rayet and A. Thomas discovered it in the theatre of Miletus
Offered to the Louvre the following year by Edmond and Gustave de Rothschild, (who ordered the excavations)
2 holes made in the back to secure the statue with metal tenons) show:
reused > Decoration: on the scenery wall of roman theatre.
Many details such as traces of tools at the marble surface, the robust contours and the posture of the right arm, which hold probably a cup or a bow, lead to attribute this statue to 2 sculptors at the end of 6e siècle av. J.-C. Some people compare it to an Apollo in bronze which would have been sculpted by Canachos for the adjoining temple of Didymes. Other people think = style of Pythagoras, author of athletic statues admired for their realism.
Inheritance of the ARCHAISM SCULPTURE
Heir of the kouros from the Archaic period (Kouros= beautiful young man)
- Like the archaic kouros :
-frontal posture, naked, standing, advanced position of the left leg -
- Inheritance of the VIe siècle sculpture:
-pronounced hollow of the back + stylisat°/ highly decorative treatment of pubic hair in the shape of star.
Innovations of the SEVERE STYLE
Torso represents innovations brought by the Severe style sculptors
-POSE quite different from the rigid stance of Kouros:
Rigidity disappeared
Anatomy more and more mastered/realistic
Le Torse de Milet stands out by :
Its athletic aspect,
Strong shoulders
Massive proportions.
Increasingly depictions of reality.
Representation human body more and more realistic:
Cf: Rendering of abdominal muscles + indentation (decoupage/trace) of ribs= convincing
Projection of right shoulder blade shows that the arm was stretched out in front.
and explains dissymmetry of torso and pectorals.
Movement of muscles + Curve of the statue’s hip/ the way the statue has all the weight on 1 foot begins to animate the statue: (= hip’s thrust/sideways)
Right hip higher than left
Right buttock more contracted than other:
man stood with his pelvis tilted and
weight shifted naturally onto 1 leg.
Body supported by right leg (and free the left one)
Undulation of the spinal line in the back.
This torso belongs essentially to the Dorian style
Massive body
Treatment of pectoral and abdominal muscles
Line which leaves the hip to go to the groin (aine)
But a bit Ionian: > Refinement
Refined hairstyle : curly,
(hair ribbon) (catogan)
(ps :attention: je viens de voir ke le buste n’a pas de cheveux, c’est étrange… à vérifier)
CONCLUSION
At this time Classical sculptors made advances in several areas, but they
focused mainly on the rendering of the male body, later shown in motion (en mouvement)
A BIT OF VOCABULARY….
scenery/set : décor (theatre)
Asia Minor
Fouilles: Dig, excavations
Coupe: cup
Arc: bow
pronounced small/hollow of the back (cambrure des reins prononcée)
stance (posture)
metal tenons : tenons en metal
arm was stretched out (allongé) in front
Déhanchement: Curve of the statue’s hip/ the way the statue has all the weight on 1 foot
buttock (fesse)
pelvis (bassin, pelvis) tilted (incliné)
weight shifted (se déplace)
indentation (découpage/trace)
côtes: ribs
groin (aine)
Sillon dorsal: dorsal line