GREECE / ITALY<br/> <em>Torso of an athlete</em> 1st century BCE-1st century CE <!-- (front view) --><br /> marble<br /> 102.6 x 52.1 x 27.4 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, in memory of Professor A. D. Trendall, 1997<br /> 1997.85<br /> <!--60251-->

GREECE / ITALY Torso of an athlete 1st century BC-1st century AD

GREECE / ITALY Torso of an athlete 1st century BCE-1st century CE

This marble torso is an outstandingly well-preserved representation of an athletic male body in its prime. It is thought to be a Roman copy of an original by the Greek sculptor Polykleitos. The general style is of the fifth century BC, a period much favoured by Roman copyists. The fluid modelling is in the spirit of Polykleitos, who sought to represent the ideal proportions of the naked male body. It is more difficult, however, to pinpoint when the copy or adaptation was made.