It is traditionally attributed to Praxiteles and dated to the 4th century BC, based on a remark by the 2nd century Greek traveller Pausanias, and has made a major contribution to the definition of Praxitelean style. Its attribution is, however, the object of fierce controversy among art historians.
The sculpture is unlikely to have been one of Praxiteles' famous works, as no ancient replicas of it have been identified. The documentary evidence associating the work with Praxiteles is based on a passing mention by the 2nd century AD traveller Pausanias.
The Olympia site was hit by an earthquake during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian in the final years of the third century C.E, collapsing the roof of the Temple of Hera and burying the statue in rubble.
Rediscovery
In 1874, the Greek state signed an agreement with Germany for an archaeological exploration of the Olympia site,[1] which was first dug in the French Morea expedition of 1829. The German excavations in 1875 were led by Ernst Curtius. On 8 May 1877, in the temple of Hera, he uncovered the body (head, torso, legs, left arm) of a statue of a young man resting against a tree trunk covered by a mantle. Protected by the thick clay layer above it, it was in an exceptionally good state of preservation.
Head of the Hermes figure, remarkable for its highly polished finish
It took six more separate discoveries to uncover the rest of the statue as it is displayed today. Hermes is still missing his right forearm, two fingers of his left hand, both forearms below the elbow, the left foot and his penis, whilst Dionysus is missing his arms (except the right hand on Hermes's shoulder) and the end of his right foot. Much of the tree trunk and the plinth are also lost. However, an ancient base survives, made of a grey limestone block between two blocks of marble.
Technical considerations
The group is sculpted from a block of the best quality of Parian marble. Hermes measures 2.10/2.12 m, 3.70 m with the base. The right foot of Hermes is integral with a section of the base, which has undergone some adjustment in antiquity.
The face and torso of Hermes are striking for their highly polished, glowing surface, which John Boardman half-jokingly attributed to generations of female temple workers.[2] The back, by contrast, shows the marks of the rasp and chisel, and the rest of the sculpture is incompletely finished.
At the time of its discovery, the hair retained slight traces of cinnabar,[3] a form of mercury sulfate with a red color, perhaps a preparation for gilding.[4] Cinnabar tints are retained on the sandal straps of the original foot, with traces of gilding. The sandal also bears the motif of a Heraclean knot, which was probably extended in paint.
The statue is present in the 2016 anime Sekko Boys.
Notes
^(in French) Helmut Kyrieleis, "Les fouilles allemandes à Olympie", in Olympie, from a conference at the Louvre from 18 January to 15 March 1999, Documentation française, Paris, 2001, p. 50.
^Boardman, La Sculpture grecque du second classicisme, Thames & Hudson, Paris, 1998, p. 53.
^Noted by Alfred Emerson, "Letter from Olympia", The American Journal of Archaeology and of the History of Fine Arts3.1-2, (June 1887), p. 96..
Aileen Ajootian, "Praxiteles", Personal Styles in Greek Sculpture (Olga Palagia & Jerome J. Pollitt, ed.s), Cambridge University Press, 1998 (1st edition 1996) ISBN0-521-65738-5, p. 103-110.
Rhys Carpenter, "Two Postscripts to the Hermes Controversy", American Journal of Archaeology (January 1954) vol. 58, issue 1, p. 1-12.
" L’Hermès d'Olympie », dans Olympie, actes d'un cycle de conférences organisé au musée du Louvre du 18 janvier au 15 mars 1999, Documentation française, Paris, 2001, ISBN2-11-004780-1, p. 243-271.
" Praxitèle aujourd'hui ? La question des originaux », dans Praxitèle, catalogue de l'exposition au musée du Louvre, 23 mars-18 juin 2007, éditions du Louvre & Somogy, 2007, ISBN978-2-35031-111-1, p. 97-103 et p.&120-122.
Gisela M. A. Richter, "The Hermes of Praxiteles", American Journal of Archaeology (July–September 1931) vol. 35, issue 3, p. 277-290.
Brunilde Sismondo Ridgway, Fourth-Century Styles in Greek Sculpture, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, 1997 (ISBN0-299-15470-X)
(in French)Claude Rolley, La Sculpture grecque, vol. II : La période classique, Picard, Manuels d'art et d'archéologie antiques, 1999 (ISBN2-7084-0506-3), p. 250-254.
(in German)Georg Treu, Hermes mit dem Dionysosknaben: ein Originalwerk des Praxiteles gefunden im Heraion zu Olympia, Wasmuth, Berlin, 1878.
External links
Media related to Hermes bearing the child Dionysos at Wikimedia Commons
(in French) Dossier : Praxitèle, un maître de la sculpture antique, Musée du Louvre
February 01, 2023
hermes, infant, dionysus, also, known, hermes, praxiteles, hermes, olympia, ancient, greek, sculpture, hermes, infant, dionysus, discovered, 1877, ruins, temple, hera, olympia, greece, displayed, archaeological, museum, olympia, hermes, infant, dionysos, archa. Hermes and the Infant Dionysus also known as the Hermes of Praxiteles or the Hermes of Olympia is an ancient Greek sculpture of Hermes and the infant Dionysus discovered in 1877 in the ruins of the Temple of Hera Olympia in Greece It is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia Hermes and the Infant Dionysos Archaeological Museum of Olympia It is traditionally attributed to Praxiteles and dated to the 4th century BC based on a remark by the 2nd century Greek traveller Pausanias and has made a major contribution to the definition of Praxitelean style Its attribution is however the object of fierce controversy among art historians The sculpture is unlikely to have been one of Praxiteles famous works as no ancient replicas of it have been identified The documentary evidence associating the work with Praxiteles is based on a passing mention by the 2nd century AD traveller Pausanias Contents 1 Loss 2 Rediscovery 3 Technical considerations 4 Popular culture 5 Notes 6 Bibliography 7 External linksLoss EditThe Olympia site was hit by an earthquake during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian in the final years of the third century C E collapsing the roof of the Temple of Hera and burying the statue in rubble Rediscovery EditIn 1874 the Greek state signed an agreement with Germany for an archaeological exploration of the Olympia site 1 which was first dug in the French Morea expedition of 1829 The German excavations in 1875 were led by Ernst Curtius On 8 May 1877 in the temple of Hera he uncovered the body head torso legs left arm of a statue of a young man resting against a tree trunk covered by a mantle Protected by the thick clay layer above it it was in an exceptionally good state of preservation Head of the Hermes figure remarkable for its highly polished finish It took six more separate discoveries to uncover the rest of the statue as it is displayed today Hermes is still missing his right forearm two fingers of his left hand both forearms below the elbow the left foot and his penis whilst Dionysus is missing his arms except the right hand on Hermes s shoulder and the end of his right foot Much of the tree trunk and the plinth are also lost However an ancient base survives made of a grey limestone block between two blocks of marble Technical considerations EditThe group is sculpted from a block of the best quality of Parian marble Hermes measures 2 10 2 12 m 3 70 m with the base The right foot of Hermes is integral with a section of the base which has undergone some adjustment in antiquity The face and torso of Hermes are striking for their highly polished glowing surface which John Boardman half jokingly attributed to generations of female temple workers 2 The back by contrast shows the marks of the rasp and chisel and the rest of the sculpture is incompletely finished At the time of its discovery the hair retained slight traces of cinnabar 3 a form of mercury sulfate with a red color perhaps a preparation for gilding 4 Cinnabar tints are retained on the sandal straps of the original foot with traces of gilding The sandal also bears the motif of a Heraclean knot which was probably extended in paint The Resting Satyr Roman copy of another work attributed to Praxiteles Capitoline Museums Papposilenus bearing the infant Dionysos variant on the Olympia Hermes c 350 300 BC Musee du LouvrePopular culture EditThe statue is present in the 2016 anime Sekko Boys Notes Edit in French Helmut Kyrieleis Les fouilles allemandes a Olympie in Olympie from a conference at the Louvre from 18 January to 15 March 1999 Documentation francaise Paris 2001 p 50 Boardman La Sculpture grecque du second classicisme Thames amp Hudson Paris 1998 p 53 Noted by Alfred Emerson Letter from Olympia The American Journal of Archaeology and of the History of Fine Arts 3 1 2 June 1887 p 96 Carpenter p 7 Bibliography EditAileen Ajootian Praxiteles Personal Styles in Greek Sculpture Olga Palagia amp Jerome J Pollitt ed s Cambridge University Press 1998 1st edition 1996 ISBN 0 521 65738 5 p 103 110 Rhys Carpenter Two Postscripts to the Hermes Controversy American Journal of Archaeology January 1954 vol 58 issue 1 p 1 12 in French Alain Pasquier L Hermes d Olympie dans Olympie actes d un cycle de conferences organise au musee du Louvre du 18 janvier au 15 mars 1999 Documentation francaise Paris 2001 ISBN 2 11 004780 1 p 243 271 Praxitele aujourd hui La question des originaux dans Praxitele catalogue de l exposition au musee du Louvre 23 mars 18 juin 2007 editions du Louvre amp Somogy 2007 ISBN 978 2 35031 111 1 p 97 103 et p amp 120 122 Gisela M A Richter The Hermes of Praxiteles American Journal of Archaeology July September 1931 vol 35 issue 3 p 277 290 Brunilde Sismondo Ridgway Fourth Century Styles in Greek Sculpture University of Wisconsin Press Madison 1997 ISBN 0 299 15470 X in French Claude Rolley La Sculpture grecque vol II La periode classique Picard Manuels d art et d archeologie antiques 1999 ISBN 2 7084 0506 3 p 250 254 in German Georg Treu Hermes mit dem Dionysosknaben ein Originalwerk des Praxiteles gefunden im Heraion zu Olympia Wasmuth Berlin 1878 External links Edit Media related to Hermes bearing the child Dionysos at Wikimedia Commons in French Dossier Praxitele un maitre de la sculpture antique Musee du Louvre Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hermes and the Infant Dionysus amp oldid 1101365054, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
