Apollo Sauroktonos (“Lisard-killer”)
Marble.Roman copy after a bronze original ca. 360 BCE by Praxiteles. Inv. No. 750.Rome, Vatican Museums, Pius-Clementine Museum, Gallery of statues, 62
Apollo Sauroktonos (“Lisard-killer”).
Marble.
Roman copy after a bronze original ca. 360 BCE by Praxiteles.
Roman copy after a bronze original ca. 360 BCE by Praxiteles.
Inv. No. 750.
Rome, Vatican Museums, Pius-Clementine Museum, Gallery of statues, 62
(Roma, Musei Vaticani, Museo Pio-Clementino, Galleria delle statue, 62).
Description:
The Gallery of Statues contains, among other works, a Roman copy of a bronze by Praxiteles from around 360 BC, the Apollo Sauroktonos (“lizard-killer”). It is a fine depiction of the young god an instant before he kills, using a small arrow, a lizard resting on a tree trunk. This very high-quality copy well renders the vague sinuosity of Praxiteles’ works. The languid, almost voluptuous charm of the relaxed Apollo inculcates a terrible sense of dread for the impending cruel act. The profound and gloomy meditations of ancient art give way to light distraction, to a delicate but cruel game.
Credits:
© 2007. Photo, text: Pomella A. «Vatican Museums». Edizioni Musei Vaticani. P. 75, 77.
Keywords: γλυπτική sculptura sculpture sculptural scultura skulptur ρωμαϊκό roman romana romano romani römisch römische römisches römischen römischer romain romaine romains romaines ρωμαϊκό αντίγραφο copy copia kopie copie ελληνική μυθολογία mythologia graeca greek mythology mitologia greca griechische mythologie grecque ἄγαλμα άγαλμα statua statuae statue statues statui statuen statuons θεός ἀπόλλων απόλλων apollon deus apollo phoebus god dio febo gott apoll dieu marble marmo marmor marbre μάρμαρο prassitele praxitèle praxiteles πραξιτέλης nude man uomo nudo nackt nackter mann homme nu lizard lucertola eidechse lézard sauroctonos lizard-killer slayer sauroctono uccisore del rettile sauroktonos echsentöter sauroctone σαυροκτόνος gs 62 inv no 750
