Praxiteles

 **Praxiteles**



Praxiteles was a Greek sculptor that lived from ca. 400-330 B.C. Since he was born and raised in Athens Greece, sculpting was a very important aspect of his culture.The Greeks highly respected sculptures in their community because they admired the human being and its greatness. Praxiteles was the son of famous Greek sculptor Kephisodotos. Kephisodotes taught him how to sculpt, and then Praxiteles became one of the most famous sculptors of his time. He created sculptors that "ripple with life" and were as natural as possible.{www.thenagain.info} He suggested a somewhat more mature, less innocent world.{Knight 179} Praxiteles was a very wealthy man. Being a sculptor in ancient Greece was a very prestigious job and was admired by all Greeks. Praxiteles was known to for giving expensive gifts to his friends. He lived a very comfortable life because of this vast wealth of his. Praxiteles had one woman in his life. This woman was Phyrne. Phyrne was one of Praxiteles favorite models. There might of been a hint of a romance between the two, but that was never proven. Phyrne was used for maybe Praxiteles' most famous sculptures, the Aphrodite of Knidos.(www.Britannica.com) The Aphrodite of Knidos is representative of a distinct style that Praxitles initiated in Greek sculpture; however, it also may have reflected the influence of women in his life. {www.thenagain.info} Praxiteles made a new pose called the "Praxitlean curve" as seen in his Hermes with the Infant Dionysus. This new curve influenced many sculptors during the late Hellenic Period and into the Hellenistic Period of Greek sculpture. {www.thenagain.info} He was able to give the body a sensuous texture. None of these sculptures have survived except for one. The one sculptor made by Praxiteles that has survived is Hermes carrying the infant Dionysus.( www.Britannica.com) Almost none of Praxiteles' sculptures have survived. Historians only know about these sculptures from Greek and Roman copies.(World Book 734) Praxiteles created many sculptures in his time. One example is the Aphrodite of Knidos. This sculpture was so highly prized that a king offered in exchange for the statue, to pay the town that held its huge debts. But, the town refused.(Knight 181) Praxiteles created many great works of art for his time. He isn't considered the best Greek artist, but he set the stage for other artists to come. His sculpting style was delicate and luminous, and gave the body a sensuous texture.(www.thenagaininfo)

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** Works Cited ** Knight, Judson. //Ancient Civilizations.// 2000. 179-82. Print. "Praxiteles."2008.15. Chicago: World Book Inc.,2008. Print. "Praxiteles." //Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.//Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.,2012. Web. 20 Mar. 2012 "Phryne" //Encyclopedia Britannica. Encylopedia Britannica Online.// Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 20 Mar. 2012 "Praxiteles." //ancientgreece//. University Press Inc., n.d. Web. 26 Mar 2012. . Koeller, David. "Praxiteles." //thenagain//. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar 2012. .