A STELE of TWO WOMEN
handing each other flowers
This is a stele found in Pharsalos in Thessaly in Greece and now in the Louvre
We do not know these women's names or relationship. Were they sisters lovers friends or is this a religious ritual? I found it while researching for examples of greek costume. Enjoy for the carving the clothing details or the possible story it may inspire ?
THAT ARCHAIC SMILE
doesnt appear only on freestanding statues.
This youth's image is carved onto the side of a memorial stele.
Scroll down for further close-ups and zoom in for a view of the small girl who accompanies him.
He seems to be holding a flower and definitely is carrying a small container perhaps of oil slung from one wrist.
Notice how the rough strokes of carving still visible in the background bring further emphasis to the polished smoothed facial features? There does not seem to be any traces of painting though apart from the pupil of the eye and that could simply be texture or grain of the stone?
I hope you have enjoyed this Archaic Smile series?
THE SMILE OF A SPHINX
#sphinx #archaicsculpture #greeksculpture #archaicgreekart
Its Not only Maidens and Youths who have THAT smile in Archaic Greek ART.
This statue is the top part of an Archaic Attic Stele (I'll show you the lower part in the next post) and the slender feline proportions and pose of the lower body suggest the sculptor seems to have seen a cat (then an exotic import) about to bring upwards. Note the distinctive Archaic Smile. The lack of plumage yet detailed carving of the face suggests also the sculptor wanted onlookers looking upwards to notice the smile ? Such elegant refined curves!
