Polycritus was one of the most famous sculptors in ancient Greece in the 5th century BC.

Chinese name: Poliklitos

Place of birth: ancient Greece

Occupation: art sculptor

Major achievements: One of the most famous sculptors in ancient Greece in the 5th century BC.

Representative works: The Spear Holder, The Young Man with a Haircut, etc.

brief introduction

Polycritus was one of the most famous sculptors in ancient Greece in the 5th century BC. He is good at expressing the image of young athletes, and the materials used are all bronze. It is said that he also wrote a paper on the proportion of human body: rules. It's a pity that none of his original works exist, leaving only a few copies of the Roman period, such as "The Spear Bearer" and "The Young Man with Hair".

Spear bearer

Spear holders are particularly important. It shaped the image of a strong and energetic young soldier, reflecting the ancient Greeks' reverence for the soldiers who bravely defended their country after the victory of the Persian War. At the same time, it also verifies the author's long-term research on the proportion of human body, that is, he thinks that the most ideal proportion of human body is the ratio of head to whole body of 7∶ 1. According to this proportion, the human body looks short and fat, but it is shown in a balanced and natural posture and strict proportion, which conforms to the standards of Greek aesthetic taste at that time. Even the sculptors at that time called this statue "rule", and Spielmer was a statue specially created to illustrate this French style.

The tension and relaxation of the whole body muscles of the statue have changed accordingly. The figure holds a spear in his left hand, stands on his right leg, and the supporting point falls on his right leg. The right hand hangs down and the left foot bends back slightly, which makes it look relaxed and atmospheric. The stressed right leg echoes the left hand holding the spear, while the relaxed left leg matches the free right hand. The shoulder leans slightly to the left and the head turns slightly to the right, so that the overall shape of the statue is balanced in opposition, and the strength contrast between the left and right legs presents harmony and unity. Although the human body shaped according to this proportion is relatively strong, it is shown in a balanced and natural posture and strict proportion, which is in line with the aesthetic taste of the Greeks at that time. Therefore, the sculptor at that time called this statue "rule", that is, regarded it as a model of human beauty, and this statue has always been called "standard human body" by classicism and academia.

The Lancer is the masterpiece of the famous ancient Greek sculptor Poliklitos in the 5th century BC. Unfortunately, the original book no longer exists. According to textual research, the marble replica found in Pompeii in ancient times is the best preserved, and it is now in the Naples Museum in Italy. The statue is about 198 cm high and was made in 450- 440 BC.

"The Spear Holder" is not only a typical work of Poliklitos closely combining new sculpture concepts and techniques, but also embodies the solemn, heroic and noble Jing Ya temperament embodied in Greek classical sculpture. This rich, simple and powerful style has become a model of male beauty unanimously recognized by later generations.