Head of the Doryphoros in the Walters Art Museum, September 2009

Head of the Doryphorus


Creators: Roman (Artist), Copy after Polykleitos (Greek, active 460-415 BC) (Artist)

Period: Original: ca. 450 BC; Roman copy: 1st century BC-AD 4th century (Classical-Roman)

Medium: marble (Sculpture)

Accession Number: 23.225

Measurements: 10 13/16 x 9 1/16 x 9 7/16 in. (27.5 x 23 x 24 cm)

Polyclitus of Argos attempted to depict the High Classical ideal of human form in his famous "Doryphorus" (Spear-bearer) statue. In his treatise, entitled "Canon," he wrote of achieving this ideal through perfect balance and proportion among the parts of the body. The statue may have been intended to portray Achilles setting off for the Trojan War. This copy follows, but does not imitate exactly, the structure and symmetry of the head of the original "Doryphorus."

Text from: art.thewalters.org/detail/15224/head-of-the-doryphorus/