Compare/Contrast 2 Ancient Sculptures
For this essay I have chosen two sculptures, each from a different culture that I am very fond of, to compare and contrast. The first piece that I chose is an Egyptian sculpture of royalty (picture on the left). This statue represents an eternal existence reflected in its emotionless calm and enduring serenity. In this statue Menkure and His Chief Queen from the Old Kingdom’s 4th Dynasty are depicted; it is thought to have originally stood on the processional causeway leading to Menkure’s pyramid at Giza. However, the statue was discovered buried with him inside his tomb. “It is believed to have been the first double statue of its kind made.”This sculpture shares all of the conventional qualities common to most Egyptian sculptures of human figures. This type of statue is best viewed from the front or squarely from each side due to its monumentally frozen quality. “Symbolizing the absolute control of the god-ruler, this immobility serves as a visual counterpart of Egyptian belief in immutable laws that govern humans and nature.” This magnificent ancient sculpture can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Egyptian art is truly one of a kind, with its sophisticated beauty and uniqueness. So many cultures have learned and revised the art of the Egyptians; therefore leading me to my next choice; a glorious Greek masterpiece.
The next piece I have chosen is of the Greek culture. It is a glorious statue called “Laocoon” also referred to as the “Laocoon Group” shown on the right. In this classic marble sculpture, the Trojan priest Laocoon and his sons are depicted being assailed by a fearsome sea serpent. The gesture on his face shows countless emotion of pain. This famous statue is an epic work of art that was first discovered during the Italian Renaissance in the ruins of Titus’ palace in Rome in 1506, in the presence of the great Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo. Here is a little bit of history I found on this piece; “A...
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