About Jeni Andrews-Fraser Expertise Any questions relating to the art (painting, sculpture, design) and architecture of historical periods from the ancient Greeks to our modern age (roughly 600BC to 2000 AD). Please Note: I DO NOT undertake vaulations for artworks - for these, you need to contact a fine art dealer.
Experience Experience in the area:Course leader/lecturer - art history; Contextual studies lecturer (Foundation Art & Design degree); senior examiner (National UK Board) Organizations: Association of Art Historians
Institute of Educational Assessors
Education/Credentials: MA History of Art (Falmouth College of Art); BA Fine Art
Question Trying to do a paper. Need to know term for a human statue when the arm is
away from the body(the space) as opposed to attached solidly. Thanks
Answer Hello Lauren - and thanks for your question. I think what you are grasping for is the term 'contrapposto'. Originally a pose devised by the Greek, Polykleitos (see Doryphorus' figure, contrapposto is an Italian term meaning "counterpoise" used in the visual arts to describe a human figure standing with most of its weight on one foot so that its shoulders and arms twist off-axis from the hips and legs. This gives the figure a more dynamic, or alternatively relaxed appearance. It can also encompass the tension as a figure changes from resting on a given leg to walking or running upon it (so-called ponderation). The space between one arm is 'counter-poised' with an arm in tension, close to the body.
Hope this is what you were looking for.
Cheers
Jeni
