Unit 3: Project 3: Study of Free-standing Sculptures

I took the opportunity during my visit to the Museum of Classical Archaeology in Cambridge to complete Project 3. I had a look around the museum before picking a few sculptures that demonstrated a wide range of people, poses and clothing. This is my first time making sketches in a museum and it was a wonderful experience to actually draw ancient figures.

Seated Roman Woman

This is a sculpture of a Roman woman seating in a chair. She appears to be sad with her hands clasped on her lap and her feet crossing. It is as though she is thinking or waiting for something. I was quite amazed at the details of her clothes. The folds of the drapery is well-formed and you can see the outline and shape of her breasts under her think dress. Even the recess of the sleeve under her right arm is carved in to represent realism.

Satyr playing a Footclapper

This is a sculpture of Satyr. He seemed quite happy, playing a musical instrument with his feet. His pose is very animated, with his right arm raised and left arm holding a staff and his neck bent forward and face looked downwards. The sculpture is very dynamic and he looks like he is dancing. The musculature of his body, arms and legs are well depicted and looked anatomically correct.

Baby Boy with Egyptian Goose

This is a sculpture of a baby boy with his pet, an Egyptian goose. He seems to be pressing his right palm on the body of the goose. The goose looks distressed. Is the baby playing with his pet gently or is he hurting it? The baby boy is sculpted with baby fat on his cheeks and thighs. His pose is also animated, holding his right palm forwards like he was distracted by something in front and above him and not paying attention to his goose. The goose appears to be trapped by the boy's palm and is twisting its neck trying to get up. I think someone should come and remove the goose from this naughty baby.

Sculpture from the Temple of Athena Aphaia on the Greek island of Aegina

This is a sculpture of a fighting Greek soldier. He is lying on his side, trying to support his body with right arm and legs. He could be trying to get up after he had fallen over during battle. He is wearing a Greek soldier helmet and a shield on his left forearm. This is a very complex pose and a viewer has to go around the sculpture to appreciate the whole body. Again the muscles of the figure is depicted anatomically correct and idealistic in nature.

Medici Venus (Roman copy)

When I drew this sculpture, it looked very familiar. This is one of the most famous Greek poses. Venus is nude and is trying to use her hands to cover herself. Her figure is sculpted curvaceously, trying to show her as a sensuous Goddess. This pose has been used in many paintings: Eve in Massacio's Expulsion of Eden (c.1427) and Venus in Botticelli's The Birth of Venus (c.1485).

Reflections

This project compels me to look at sculptures in a more detailed manner. There are many ideas and questions that arise when I spend more time looking and think about what I see, which otherwise would not appear if I were to look at them in a glance and go to the next sculpture without thinking in depth.