Bronze Statue of an Aristocratic Boy: Formal Analysis

Bronze Statue of an Aristocratic Boy Formal Analysis The Bronze Statue of an Aristocratic Boy is a life-sized statue that was found on the eastern Mediterranean island of Rhodes. During the Augustan-era, Rhodes was considered to be an educational center for Roman noble families, and was especially known for its schools and teachers of philosophy and rhetoric. While Roman authority developed throughout the Greek cities of the island, Greek culture slowly began to influence Roman civilization.1 The Bronze Statue of an Aristocratic Boy is an important piece of Roman sculpture which references this wealth, prosperity, and education based on its Greek influences of craft, posture, and dress. Emphasized by the proportion and form, this statue not only gives the viewer a clear indication of the boy's social status, but it is also a good example of how the Romans were influenced by Greek culture. In comparison to the Doryphoros, it is apparent that this sculpture was probably based on the Greek canon of proportions. The body is well balanced, and the form is that of a well defined young man. The muscular torso indicates that he must have been participating in rigorous physical activities. It is very possible that these activities could have been training exercises which were common for Roman boys at the time. It was usually in preparation for battle. Young men were groomed to become soldiers, so it was crucial that they were physically fit. The boy's facial features are also idealized. His wide face and hair in particular could even be compared to that of emperor Augustus. These characteristics suggest that this boy was either the son of the region's ruling clan, or the son of a wealthy Roman official stationed on the island.

The boy's posture is another significant aspect of the statue, and was also derived from the Greek canon with its use of contrapposto. His speaking pose is almost identical to the sculpture of Augustus from Prima Porta. The