Bronze head of
Apollo: the 'Chatsworth Head'
Greek, from about
460 BC
Found near Tamassos, Cyprus (AD 1836)
This impressive
bronze head is from a slightly over life-size statue. Its modern name
derives from the fact that for many years, while in the possession of the
Dukes of Devonshire, it was preserved at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.
By the end of the Archaic period (about 600-480 BC) sculptors had
mastered the complexities of anatomy. However, they did not immediately
pursue complete realism, but an idealized concept of human perfection.
This often makes it difficult to determine whether a representation is
intended to be a human being or a god, unless the figure holds or wears
something to aid identification. At this period it is usually deities who
are represented over life-size, and the long curly locks of hair probably
indicate that this is the Greek god Apollo.
The eyes were originally inlaid, perhaps in glass, marble or ivory,
held by bronze plates. These are still in place in the eye-sockets, and
their projecting edges are shaped to form eye-lashes. The statue itself
would have been made in sections, probably with the head, arms and legs
cast separately by the indirect lost-wax
technique and then joined together. Some of the locks of hair were
also made separately and attached.
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass
Dort das Stichwort "cyprus"
eingeben!