Discobolus Head - Item #169
17 Inches High x 7 Inches Wide x 10 Inches Deep
The Greek sculptor Myron was famous for his athletes and animals. One such sculpture of Myron's that is considered one of the best of the Classical period is the life-size Discobolus, or Discus Thrower. The original bronze is lost, but many Roman copies exist, including the best copy which is in the Museo Nazionale Romano. The figure is renowned for its complexity of motion and form. Despite the thrower's apparent action, he is depicted at rest, shown in between the backswing and the forward swing.
This full-size and life-size head is from the copy in the British Museum collection, known as the Townley Discobolus. When the Townley Discobolus was discovered without a head in Tivoli near Rome in 1791, a nearby head was thought to belong to it. The restorer attached the head, now known to be incorrect, and also turned it so it faced the ground. Nevertheless, the restoration was well-received and also replicated.
Artist: Unknown
Museum: British Museum, London
Time Period: Ancient Greek/Ancient Roman
Sources:
Collins, Neil. "Myron." Art Encyclopedia. Visual-arts-cork.com, 2019, http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/sculpture/myron.htm.
"Gli imperdibili." Museo Nazionale Romano, slide 12, http://www.museonazionaleromano.beniculturali.it/it/176/gli-imperdibili.
Harris, Beth, and Steven Zucker. "Myron, Discobolus (Discus Thrower), Roman copy of an ancient Greek bronze (video)." Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/greek-art/classical/v/myron-discobolus-discus-thrower-roman-copy-of-an-ancient-greek-bronze-from-c-450-b-c-e.
Sooke, Alastair. "The Discobolus: Greeks, Nazis and the body beautiful." BBC, 24 March 2015, http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150324-hitlers-idea-of-the-perfect-body.
"The Townley Discobolus." Museum number 1805,0703.43. The British Museum, https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=8760&partId=1.
Pieces are plaster unless otherwise noted. They are made to order and hand cast. We offer our pieces in a variety of patinas/finishes.
Masks and small and large reliefs (except tabletop pieces as noted) come with at least one embedded hook for hanging unless otherwise noted. For all other pieces, like anatomical casts, refer to the product pages.
Questions? View the FAQ page for more information and for answers to frequently asked questions. Email us at contact@capronicollection.com or call us at 781-933-2455.
View the patina/finish options for your hand-made reproduction here or above. Be sure to make your selection when adding the item to your cart.
Most items ship within a few days to 3 weeks as our reproductions are made to order and hand cast.
Customers in the contiguous United States receive free ground shipping automatically at checkout. Note that an oversized item – typically an item weighing more than 150 pounds when packaged – will not populate a shipping rate because it may have to ship via a freight carrier. In this case, please contact us for a quote. Customers in Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories and international customers can find shipping options in the checkout process.
Items must be opened and inspected within 48 hours of delivery to report any damage.
Returns are not accepted; all sales are final as pieces are made to order and hand cast.
More info and answers to frequently asked questions can be found under FAQ.