Kritios Boy: Gallic Chieftain Killing Himself And His Wife

I will be writing about Ancient Sculptures, the first a piece of Classical Greek art the Kritios Boy and the second a Hellenistic art Piece Gallic Chieftain Killing Himself and his Wife. These sculptures have been studied and admired countless times for they are both perfect examples of what these two timeless styles held. Seeing them today standing there just as they did thousands of years before is almost a miracle in its own right.
Classical Greek art was just as it sounds classic, simple yet perfectly crafted with details, men’s bodies that were so precise with just the correct amount of muscle and values added to make an ideal perfect form. Hellenistic art was very different from what was being done in the past; the realism of life was
being captured through Marble sculptures for the first time in this way. Children playing with animals are finally seen as well as unruly styles, poverty and drunkenness is finally being depicted in sculpture. Both styles changed art in a way that it would never be the same ever again. Sculptures were on a whole new level of purpose and demand for they were being made for a wider range of uses. Now instead of one sculpture in some cases you now need five to tell a story or send your message which also created a bigger need.
The marble Kritios Boy resembling a youth athletic boy, from the Early Classical period and the first known statue to have an offset stance, leaning to the right side more than the left because of an angled stance was called Contrapposto.
This statue differs from others in the past, more natural and life like a rounder thicker realistic version very surreal. Although later in this period you will see this style get more precise this is an outstanding example of the Classical period. Standing tall with head straight a relaxed confidant athlete, arms hanging to his sides with one leg bent as if he is turned around waiting with ease on others that have fallen behind him. Standing 3 foot 10 inches tall smaller than the typical life size statues normally found, the size does not take away it is not missing a single detail from any angle seen. This is a remarkable example of Classical Greek art that we should consider extremely lucky that we are able to few and study it as it was (though missing a few bites and pieces) when it was created so long
ago.
It was an outburst of art that had never been used to this nature before, life that had been over looked as beauty before was now being taken advantage of.
The beauty of every day happenings, the now in the moment life as they knew it but never thought to portray before this time period. The Gallic Chieftain killing his wife sculpture also referred to as The Galatian Suicide is truly a one of a kind piece of Hellenistic art in every way possible. Showing fear a man very well fit and muscular standing over a woman( his wife) that is slumped down as he hold her arm in one hand and a dagger in the other, his stance says he is threatened and his in a hurry as he has just stabbed her and his going after himself now, something that was not seen in sculpture till this style of art was man and woman together in sculpture, specially a man killing a woman with a dagger, another unseen part of this were other sculptures that were around this piece of art a group of dying enemies that explain the story of him killing his wife before capture and himself, A story that cannot be told without the other sculptures to bring it to life. Changing life as they knew it through art and peace of mind changed the world
forever.
In conclusion I feel that both of these styles and pieces of art really say something about their time periods as a turning point in art as they knew it at the time. Without these two very different styles of art, what would the world be like today and would we see the past and look back at it as we do today? I myself don’t think that we would know anything was missing as we do with other things not recorded. As far as art evolving I think that it would have taken five times longer to get back to where they were in time, considering the Minoan and Mycenaean mishap was a complete set back as well. This was a very unique time not only for art but for everything that existed; people were getting very comfortable with their surroundings and behaviors.