Praxiteles facts for kids

Medallion representing Praxiteles

Praxiteles (Greek: Πραξιτέλης) was a very famous sculptor from Athens, Greece. He lived in the 4th century BC and was the son of another sculptor named Cephisodotus the Elder. Praxiteles was known for creating beautiful and lifelike statues. He was one of the first artists to sculpt the human body in a new, more natural way, including female figures.

Even though we don't have any of Praxiteles' original statues today, we know about his work from many copies made by later artists. Ancient writers like Pliny the Elder also wrote about his amazing sculptures. We can even see some of his famous statue shapes on old coins!

Some people have thought there might have been two sculptors named Praxiteles. One was said to live around the time of Pheidias, and the other was his more famous grandson. However, there isn't clear proof for this idea, even though repeating names in families was common in Ancient Greece.

When Did Praxiteles Live?

It's a bit tricky to know the exact dates for Praxiteles. Most experts believe he was not working during the time of Alexander the Great. This is because Alexander usually hired the best artists, and there's no record of him working with Praxiteles. Pliny the Elder suggested 364 BC as a key date, which might be when one of Praxiteles' most famous works was created.

Praxiteles often chose to sculpt younger, more graceful Greek gods like Apollo, Hermes, and Aphrodite. He didn't usually sculpt older, more serious gods like Zeus or Poseidon. He is also thought to have created the "S-curve" in statues, which makes figures look more relaxed and natural.

Praxiteles and his art school mostly used Parian marble for their sculptures. This marble came from the island of Paros and was considered the best quality at the time. Some of Praxiteles' statues were even painted by an artist named Nicias, which Praxiteles believed made them even better.

What is the Hermes and the Infant Dionysus Statue?

The statue of Hermes with the Infant Dionysus was found at Olympia, Greece, in 1877. This discovery was very important because it gave us a much better understanding of Praxiteles' work.

The statue shows the god Hermes carrying the baby Dionysus to the nymphs who were going to raise him. Hermes' right arm is missing, but some think he might have been holding out grapes to the child. The statue is now on display at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.

Some art experts have debated whether this statue is an original by Praxiteles or a copy made by a Roman artist much later. For example, some have pointed to the type of sandals Hermes wears or how the back of the statue is unfinished. However, these arguments are not strong enough to prove for sure if it's an original or a copy, as similar features can be found in both Greek and Roman sculptures.

What is the Apollo Sauroktonos?

Other statues that seem to be copies of Praxiteles' work show the same gentle beauty as the Hermes and the Infant Dionysus. One of the most famous is the Apollo Sauroctonos, which means "Apollo the lizard-slayer." This statue shows a young man leaning against a tree, playfully aiming an arrow at a lizard. Several Roman copies of this statue exist in museums like the Louvre and the Vatican Museums.

Another famous copy is the Aphrodite of Cnidus, located in the Vatican Museums. This statue is a copy of one Praxiteles made for the people of Cnidus. They valued it so much that they refused to sell it to King Nicomedes, even when he offered to pay off their city's huge debt!

In 2004, the Cleveland Museum of Art announced they had bought an ancient bronze statue of Apollo Sauroktonos. Some believe this might be the only almost-complete original work by Praxiteles. However, its age and who made it are still being studied and debated.

What is the Apollo Lykeios?

The Apollo Lykeios or Lycian Apollo is another statue of Apollo leaning on a tree. It is usually thought to be a work by Praxiteles. This statue shows the god resting, with his right arm touching his head. His hair is styled in braids on top, which was a common haircut for children. It's called "Lycian" because it's believed to be a copy of a lost statue that was once displayed in the Lykeion, a famous gymnasium in Athens.

What is the Capitoline Satyr?

The Resting Satyr statue on the Capitoline Hill in Rome is often thought to be a copy of one of Praxiteles' Satyr statues. However, it's not listed among his known works. The style of this particular copy is not as good as other works from Praxiteles' school. A much better copy of a similar figure exists in the Louvre museum. The pose and style of the Capitoline Satyr definitely show the influence of Praxiteles' art.

What about the Leto, Apollo, and Artemis Base?

During excavations at Mantineia in Arcadia, archaeologists found the base of a statue group by Praxiteles. This group included the gods Leto, Apollo, and Artemis. The base itself was likely made by one of Praxiteles' assistants, not by the master sculptor himself. However, it is still very interesting and important for understanding his work.

The ancient writer Pausanias described this base, saying it had sculptures of the Muses and Marsyas playing flutes. Three parts of the base have survived, showing Apollo, Marsyas, a slave, and six of the Muses. The part with the other three Muses is missing.

What is the Leconfield Head?

The Leconfield Head is a statue head that looks like the Aphrodite of Cnidus. It is kept in Petworth House in the UK. Some experts, like Adolf Furtwängler, believed this head was an actual work by Praxiteles because of its style and high quality. It was likely bought in Rome in 1755.

What is the Aberdeen Head?

The Aberdeen Head, which could be of Hermes or a young Heracles, is in the British Museum. It is linked to Praxiteles because it looks very similar to the Hermes of Olympia statue.

Why is the Aphrodite of Cnidus Important?

The Aphrodite of Cnidus was Praxiteles' most famous statue. It was groundbreaking because it was the first time a full-size female figure was shown in such a realistic way.

What about the Artemis of Antikyra?

According to Pausanias, there was a statue of Artemis made by Praxiteles in her temple in Anticyra. We know what this statue looked like from a bronze coin from the 2nd century BC. It showed the goddess holding a torch and a bow, with a dog at her feet. A recently found inscription confirms that the goddess at Antikyra was Artemis Eleithyia.

See also

In Spanish: Praxíteles para niños