My search for the "Dying Gaul"

7/4/2016

When in New York City in mid-June, I made a beeline for the Pergamon Exhibition of Hellenistic art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the great works of art of this period, after the death of Alexander the Great—statuary, finery—gems, glass, gold—and parts of the famous Great Altar of Pergamon (originally located in what is now Turkey) on loan from Berlin. One of my main goals was to see the statue of the “Dying Gaul”— one of the most famous statues in history. Well, there it was—a marble copy of the famous Hellenistic Greek statue. But…this copy was smaller than life size. And it wasn’t the copy I had hoped to see (which is in Rome, not Naples, where this one came from)…My favorite has a torque around his neck. Nevertheless, this timeless statue emanated all the pathos of the original--and clear respect for the fallen warrior.

1 Comment

PHIL link

11/11/2016 03:38:01 am

I don't ever remember seeing this one. Does anyone know anything about it? The pose is slightly different, also the one arm and head position. I have seen the Dying Gaul statue in Rome and it is beautiful, but not all that similar to this statue. Obviously, it would be a Roman copy if it is that old, perhaps a copyist who wanted to make the sculpture his own by slightly altering parts? Is it actually ancient or a later 16th century and/or a later period?

CALENDAR
Fall Update to come

Dear Culture Lover:
Art and music nourish our souls and imagination. So it is fortunate for those living on the Gold Coast of Florida that we have so much music and art around us--all year long.

But sometimes the problem is just finding out where it is. Where can you find "the best" of these genres? If that's what you are thinking, you've come to the right place. I cover local and global art, classical music, and traditional jazz. Come here to read my reviews and recommendations.

Sincerely,
April
June 4, 2019

NOTE: April has a talent for life drawing and sketching; she is the daughter of two professional artists, and has been writing about art since she reviewed modern Chinese art when living in Taiwan.