Classification
Dimensions
134 x 97 x 20 cm
Date
early 20th century
Period
Material
Iconography
Production place
Inventory
Ag.388
ID
Hyp-6437
The torso follows the most famous bronze statue of Polykleitos. The Doryphoros depicted a youth with a spear (dory), perhaps Achilles, the greatest hero in Greek mythology. According to ancient sources, the artist considered this piece as the perfect representation of the young male body. The original sculpture did not survive, but we know more than fifty ancient artworks, mostly from the Roman period, which are adaptations of the Spear Bearer. This torso was found in Rome, on the Palatine Hill, where the first imperial palaces were built. The bronze-coloured paint of the cast evokes the material of the original statue.
