Final answer:
Polykleitos's Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) is an ancient Greek sculpture representing the canonical proportions of human body idealized in the high classical period of sculpture. This well-known work is known for displaying the contrapposto posture and has been preserved through Roman marble copies. Polykleitos's influence in classical art is substantial, contributing significantly along with contemporaries such as Phidias to the aesthetics of the period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) is a seminal sculpture created by the renowned Greek sculptor Polykleitos. Polykleitos crafted this work as an embodiment of his own set of sculptural proportions, now famously known as the Canon. The original bronze sculpture has been lost to history, but fortunately, its essence has been preserved through ancient Roman marble copies, with one of the finest examples having been found in Pompeii. These Roman copies continue to convey the high standards of Classical sculpture and its quest for ideal human proportions.
The Doryphoros is a prime example of the concept of contrapposto, where the figure's weight is shifted onto one leg, creating a sense of naturalism and dynamism within the work. Despite this liveliness, the sculpture still exhibits the Severe style, with an expressionless face characteristic of early Greek art. This figure significantly influenced the development of Classical sculpture and has been admired for centuries for its portrayal of the ideal human form, exemplified by its meticulous balance and harmony.
Polykleitos was a contemporary of Phidias, another giant of Greek sculpture, who was responsible for masterpieces on the Athenian Acropolis. While Phidias is known for his grand chryselephantine statues, Polykleitos specialized in bronze statues of athletes, illustrating his canons of proportion and the balanced, chiastic poses. Together with Phidias, and other notable sculptors like Myron and Praxiteles, Polykleitos helped to establish the tenets of Classical Greek sculpture that continue to influence art to this day.