Apollo Belvedere, Essence of a God

The free-standing sculpture of the Apollo Belvedere perfected the earlier Hellenistic Apollo, “Spear Bearer”. Early Hellenistic art provided a basis for the later developments of realistic detail in the new animated, sensual art forms of the later Hellenistic era” (Fiero p. 125). The statue reveals personality with subtle humanness. He appears idealistically god-like and bigger than life. The high degree of realism makes Apollo seem almost alive.

The deep folds in the cape draped upon Apollo’s arm and neck and the deep carving of his hair into bold curls, makes the dark and light stand out strikingly against the rest of the smooth body of Apollo, drawing your eye to run immediately to the face of Apollo. Once there, one studies his face and wonders, “What is he thinking or intending?” His personality and emotion “exhibit the shift from Classical limits to emphasis on personal emotion and individual personality” (Fiero p. 125). The idea that he is self-conscious captures the attention and imagination of the admirer.

Retaining its sense of idealism, Apollo seems super human in his god-like perfection. The sculpture of marble stands seven feet, four inches, making the “bigger than life” size of the sculpture even more imposing. The slightly elongated proportions further emphasize Apollo’s god-like power as he holds out his arm, clenching the remains of the spear.

The realism of Apollo Belvedere is striking. Apollo’s life force seems to emanate from the figure and almost breaks free of the bonds of the stone in which he is carved. A subtle sense of his humanness graces this presentation of the God of sunlight, medicine and music.

The beauty of the statue of Apollo Belvedere embodies all the classical ideals of personality, idealism and realism. It is almost eternal in its ageless inspiration to all who view it.

Works Cited
(1) Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition Book One. New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2006.

Word Count: 330