AP Art History: Winged Victory of Samothrace -- #37

 


 Winged Victory of Samothrace

    Famously situated atop the staircase landing in the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Winged Victory of Samothrace is one of (if not the) most well known Hellenistic sculptures. 

Bio of the work: 

Title: Winged Victory of Samothrace
Date: ~ c. 190 BCE
Medium: Marble
Museum: The Louvre Museum, Paris

Analysis: 

    Winged Victory of Samothrace portrays Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, in contrapposto (click to learn about this term). The sculpture was the attached to the bow of a ship. The wet drapery clings to her elegant yet powerful figure. Unfortunately, Nike's head nor her arms were recovered in the original discover or by the archeologists upon return to Samothrace. This sculpture was most likely created in commemoration for a victory in a ship battle c. ~190 BCE. 

Sources: 
https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/a-stairway-to-victory
AP Art History Guide-- Barrons's 
    

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