West European Studies

Artifact Analysis The Crouching Lion
The Crouching Lion figure on exhibit was made around 330 to 317 BC and was found in the Acropolis. The statue represents both the artistic culture of the Greek civilization and the respect and reverence of Ancient Greeks towards animals. The image portrays a lion posing in a crouching manner. The figure could be found in the section 241 of the Ancient Art Gallery, along with the statue of the Votary Figure and near the figure of the Torso of the Dancing Faun, which is located on the second floor of the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts (MIA). According to the information from the MIA, this classical work of art was probably created in Athens, Greece. Most of the sculptures of Ancient Greece are made of precious materials such as marble, bronze, and limestone. This particular sculpture is made of marble. The Crouching lion has an estimated height of 29 inches and a width of 48 inches. It is an admirable piece of work because of its very fine points and the artists creative portrayal of a lion.

The Greek civilization was rich in artistic culture and historical contributions. Being one of the founding races of the intellectual world, the Ancient Greeks are believed to be the fathers of knowledge and art. The Ancient Art Gallery is filled with works of art that have become important factors in defining classical art. Artists of the Greek civilization were very skilled and had a keen eye for fine features. I get this idea from the sculpture of the Crouching Lion because I would have guessed that the unknown artist who produced this sculpture did not have a lion for a model during the time that he was sculpting this. Maybe he had seen one already, but the crouching position and the tilted face would have come from his imagination and creative skill that allowed him envision the lion doing that position. Nevertheless, he captured the essential details needed to depict an admirable sculpture.

Other than religious pieces and figures of their myths, Ancient Greeks were also fond of creating sculptures of animals. I have noticed in the gallery that most of the animals they sculpted were also those that appear most in their myths and tales, such as bulls, griffins, horses, rams, and lions. These animals serve as representations of the creatures that they held in the highest regard in their mythologies and religious beliefs. However, the main uses of animal sculptures for the Greeks were to be servant creatures guarding the tombs of the dead. This particular Crouching Lion was found in a cemetery, and it was probably placed there to guard an important tomb. This animal figure describes the culture of the Ancient Greeks that was supposed to continuously uphold a persons life even in death. The Ancient Greeks were very respectful of their dead, especially because they believe that the journey of life does not end when one perishes. The rich and powerful people, the ones who could really afford it, probably commissioned artists to create animal sculptures to guard the tombs of the people they love as a sign of respect and because they probably believe that the animals could protect them more in their journey to death.

I believe the Crouching Lion is a classical work of art. Its style has the common feature that most Ancient Greek arts possess. The lion is made of smooth marble that has a rich, yellowish color. The artist who produced this work of art had carefully carved the fine details that make the Ancient Greek art very realistic and admirable. The physical body of the sculpture was accurately shaped to portray the muscles and curves of a real lions body. The facial veins and the mane of the lion were also accurately done in order to make the lion look as authentic as possible. However, the lion was also styled in a very idealistic form. For one, the facial expression of the lion appears to be smiling at someone. The eyes are very expressive and the mouth of the lion is carved in a smiling form, something that is not seen in actual lions.

The style of realistic art probably reflects the analytical and critical culture of the Greek civilization. Realism makes the art more incredible to look at, and at the same time, it helps the idealistic role of the animal easily believable. Because the Crouching Lion was sculpted so realistically, its idealistic existence felt more possible. This makes me feel that it represents a combination of the critical and philosophical side of the Ancient Greeks and their deep worship to their mythical gods. The lion looks like a genuine lion in form, but its idealistic purpose is not to live wildlife but to guard the tombs of the dead.

Other than the fine details and the very realistic features of the Crouching Lion, another very noticeable feature in the sculpture is the missing limbs of the creature. In the displayed sculpture, all of the four legs and feet of the lion are removed from the main body already. Most Ancient Greek sculptures conspicuously have missing limbs. This is probably one of their distinctions against other ancient works from other civilizations. The missing limbs could be broken due to old age or they may have aesthetical meaning for the Ancient Greeks. Like many other sculpture, the lion was created a very long time ago. The limbs may have been broken because of the improper caring. However, the missing limbs could also mean that for the Ancient Greeks, limbs may have the least importance in human anatomy. All four feet of the lion are broken and yet its body and head remains in tact and unharmed.

The sculpture of the Crouching Lion, like many other works of art from the Greek civilization, reflects piece by piece the kind of culture that the Ancient Greeks had. Even the other sculptures surrounding this lion in the gallery possess the style fine detailing and missing limbs. The statues with faces also reflect expressiveness in their facial details. The sculptures of the Greeks, like this Crouching Lion, reveal the artistic prowess, creative imagination, mystical religiousness, and analytical knowledge that Greek civilization is known and admired for. Through the classical arts, they created masterpieces that document visually and tangibly the kind of culture that existed in the past.