A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Volume 1 (of 2)

by A. H. Smith

Fig. 4.—Relief from Mycenae, No. 217.

PART II.

MYRON AND PHEIDIAS.

Three great names represent the early prime of Greek sculpture, namely, Myron, Pheidias, and Polycleitos of Argos. These three are thought to have been fellow pupils of the Argive sculptor Ageladas.

The present part of the catalogue deals with Myron and Pheidias. The third part deals first with their immediate successors in Attica, and then turns to Polycleitos of Argos and the sculptures of the Peloponnese; and next to the special class of Greek reliefs.

MYRON.

Myron of Eleutherae in Attica worked at Athens in the first half of the fifth century b.c. Although he had not entirely abandoned the archaic style (notably, in his rendering of hair, Pliny, H. N. xxxiv., 58), he was distinguished for his skill in representing life. His power lay partly in the rendering of vigorous movement in sculpture, as in his athletic statues, and partly in a realistic imitation of nature, as in his famous cow.