Kritios Boy

Tim Edwards L6C

Key Facts•The Kritios Boy (Critius Boy) is a Marble statue of a young boy•It stands at around 1.24 meters tall •It is named after the sculptor initially thought to have made it.•It is one of the statues that make up the so called ‘Perserschutt’ or Persian debris. This is the collection of statues buried under the acropolis after the Persian occupation of Athens

Location

•The Kritios Boy was found buried on the Acropolis•It now stands on display in the Acropolis Museum in Athens•This means that most of the people who were on the classics trip will have seen this statue

FunctionThere is no evidence of any function on the statueAs it was found on the acropolis we must assume that it was used in a religious function

Brief History

•Estimated to have been built from 490 BC-480 BC•Damaged during Persian invasion of Athens•Buried under Acropolis as part of respect for the Gods•Excavated in 1865 without a head•Head found in 1888

Significance

•This statue is one of the innovators of actual simulation of weight bearing in statues•This is shown by the left foot bearing most of the weight while the right foot is bent at the knee, thus bearing less weight•It is also shown by the left hip being slightly raised, simulating tensing the weight bearing side.

Interesting facts

The Statue seems to have been made in a style which makes it look very similar to bronze statues of the time

Also, the hair is a distinctly wavy pattern which was common in bronze statues

Interesting facts continued

His eyes seem to have been removable as they are missing from the Sculpture

This was also a technique used in bronze statues

What makes it typical/atypical of the Classical era

This statue is typical of the Classical period as it starts to bring in more natural features e.g. weight bearing However, the musculature of the boy(who was seemingly 12) is too much. This shows the greeks obsession with the perfect bodyIt uses techniques from other materials sculpting e.g. bronze statues

What does Woodford say

The changes in the pose are small - the weight shifted decisively onto the back leg and the head turned slightly in the opposite direction- but the effect is dramatic

Quiz

Q1 What is the Latin spelling of Kritios?Q2 How tall is the Kritios boy?Q3 Where was it found?Q4 What time was it estimated to have been built?Q5 What time art period was this is? Q6 When was it excavated?

Quiz continued

Q7 How does it simulate weight bearing?Q8 What about the statue is a feature normally found on bronze statues?Q9What is special about the eyes of the Kritios boy?Q10 What feature from the Archaic period did the Kritios boy lack?

Q1 Answer

lCritius

Q2 Answer

l0.85m

Q3 Answer

lBuried on the Acropolis

Q4 Answer

l490-480 BC

Q5 Answer

lThe Classical period

Q6 Answer

1865 without the head, and then the head was found in 1888

Q7 Answer

lThe non weight bearing leg is bent at the knee, and the weight bearing legs hip is raised

Q8 Answer

lThe hairs wavy pattern

Q9 Answer

They were seemingly removable as they are missing

Q10 Answer

The Archaic smile