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Head of the Athenian democratic politician and orator, known for his passionate speeches against the Macedonian kings. Demosthenes is portrayed as an older man with a beard. He has thick and heavy brows with eyes looking down. His strong nasal grooves of his face also make him look drawn. The grooves on his forehead emphasise his extreme concentration and intensity. The expression may initially look quiet but is one of great intensity, demonstrating his burning political commitment and expressing his extraordinary and heroic character as well as the idea that it is only through extreme effort and intellectual intensity that one can achieve. The hair is tousled and is in small curls which have some drilling details on the side, shorter or receding at the forehead. At the back of the crown there is a star fish arrangement of the hair. The head has a crack along the neck where it was attached to the herme bust. The nose is also restored.
The head adheres to the Roman copies of the Greek statue of Demosthenes by the sculptor Polyeuktos. The Greek statue was known to have been erected in the centre of the Athenia Agora in 280-279 BC. Roman copies of this statue show Demosthenes with a drawn and intense expressions and with his hands clasped in front of his body, not in a state of mourning but rather as a symbol of his imense commitment and self control a contrast to his emotional and exciteable speeches.

Details

  • Title: Bust of Demosthenes
  • Physical Dimensions: Overall: 450 mm x 240 mm x 19 mm x 35 kg
  • Rights: Purchased from the estate of Dr Philip Nelson
  • Medium: Marble

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