Thread: How do you describe a statue?

I need help, some tips on describing and comparing statues in an artsy way, can someone help me?

the shape of the body if it is one and how realistic it is or if it resembles something in particular.... does it seem to mean something just by looking at it??

umm... try knowing art terms and what they mean and using them. I suggest taking fundamentals of art and several other art appreciation classes. and doing your own homework.

Make sure that you have pics. of the statues alongside you. and really study them as you are writing. And, if you know the dates they were made look up the characteristics of sculpture during that period and apply your knowledge in your answer.
1. Put the basic info - always in this order - of both statues at top of your page eg. Donatello, Bronze, ht. 158 cm. 1444-46, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
2. Start by saying who the statue is of: e.g. eal person, a Roman emperor or a Greek/Roman legendary hero/heroine. (e.g. Eros, Hercules, Venus). And whether it depicts the whole figure or is a bust portrait, or just of a head.
3. Compare how body is depicted: e..g. Renaissance - body and features look natural ..... as they do eg. in Michelangelo's Pieta (mother and dead Jesus). Is the face described naturalistically, are the eyes looking at you?/ What is pose - standing, sitting, contraposto (turn of body in Greek statues), profile etc.'/ Are the figurs clothed - if so what are they wearing. Do they give a stately/decorative/ appearance.
4.Finally what is the general impression that you think that the artist wanted to give: Nobility? Strength? Weakness? Or to idealize their subject.
You can either take each point I have made and compare the statues each time; or else write about one, and then write about the other. The first method is probably best.
Hope this helps.

First is data: who created it, when, where, what is the media (wood,stone, etc.)

Subject matter: (just like in a painting)Matter under consideration in a written work or speech; a theme. Literally, what is it? Is the piece a statue of a human(i.e. statue of David)? or something else?

Content: The meaning or significance of a literary or artistic work; artwork can have universal, cultural and personal symbolism. Also, what was the artist saying at the time? What does it mean (or say) to you?

The texture and color of the surface. Material and how this affects the viewer - white stone heads are different from patinaed bronze are different from polished brass. The amount of detail - smooth, cluttered. The size - absolute: over human size, tiny, life size or relative - looks like one size but is actually much bigger or smaller - see Ron Mueck.
If the piece appears realistic, then describe the detail.
If it is more abstract, but is similar to something, then refer to that. If it looks like something else - two people hugging that also suggests a twisted tree or a rock.
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