The Apollo Belvedere

Author: * Kallistos Alexandros - 3 Posts on this thread out of 5,716 Posts sitewide.
Date: Apr 18, 2005 - 23:01

KITHARA

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Winckelman said of it in 1764

" The statue surpasses all other representations of the God. just as Homer's description surpasses those attempted by all other poets...An eternal spring time, like that which reigns in the happy fields of Elysium, clothes his body with the charms of youth and softly shines on the proud structure of his limbs.. This body, marked by no vein, moved by no nerve, is animated by a celestial spirit which courses like a sweet vapour through every part...Like the soft tendrils of the vine his beautiful hair flows around his head, as if gently brushed by the breath of the zephyr. It seems to be perfumed by the essence of the gods...In the presence of this miracle of art I forgot the whole universe and my soul acquired a loftiness appropriate to its dignity. From admiration I pass to ecstasy. I feel my breast dilate and rise as if I were filled with the spirit of prophecy...I am transported to Delos and the sacred groves of Lycia--places Apollo honored with his presence..."

I had never liked the statue, I thought it stiff and formal with an unnatural look, but I had seen it only in illustrations in books. When I stood before it and looked up at its enormous height, I began to lose consciousness. I could tell I was fainting ignominiously in a room crowded with strangers as the world began to lose its colors as it does when you are about to pass out.

I had gone to see the statue with a friend who was a hand to hand combat instructor in the marines. As I was falling into unconsciousness, I heard him say in a very loud voice that everyone in the gallery could here, " What a fox!" I burst at once into laughter at the inappropriateness of the thing; the nice man had saved me from a great deal of embarrassment. I guess you can't faint while you're laughing.