Ancestral imagines, or funerary masks, made of wax or terra-cotta, had become extremely individualized and realistic by the middle of the 2nd century bc. The source of this realism is in the impact on Rome of late-Hellenistic iconography; although this use of masks was rooted in ancient Roman social and religious practice, there is no basis for a belief that the Romans and Etruscans had, from early times, been in the habit of producing death masks proper, cast directly from the features of the dead. It was undoubtedly their funerary customs that predisposed ... (100 of 46,957 words)The last century of the Republic
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Marble Cycladic idol from Amorgós, Greece, 2500 bc; in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
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Side view of a marble Cycladic idol from Amorgós, Greece, c. 2500 bc; in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
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Snake goddess, faience statuette from the temple depository of Knossos, c. 1600 bc. In the Archaeological Museum, Iraklion, Greece.
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Extant portion of the Late Bronze Age Minoan vessel known as the “Harvester Vase,” from Ayía Triádha, carved steatite, c. 1600 bc; in the Archaeological Museum, Iráklion, Crete. Diameter 14 cm.
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Serpentine rhyton (drinking vessel) in the form of a bull’s head, steatite with gold-plated horns (now restored), from the Little Palace at Knossos, Crete, c. 1500 bc; in the Archaeological Museum, Iráklion, Crete.
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bc"/> Impression of a seal stone from Vapheio, Greece, dating from c. 1500 bc.
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The Lion Gate at Mycenae, Greece, c. 1250 bc.
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Menhir with representation of a male figure, stone, Neolithic Period; in the Musée Fenaille, Rodez, France.
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Villanovan cinerary urn in the form of a helmet. In the Villa of Pope Julius, Rome.
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Detail of “Reclining Couple,” clay sarcophagus from Caere, Italy, late 6th century bc. In the Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia, Rome. Length of entire sarcophagus 2.01 m.
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La dama de Elche, painted limestone bust from Elche, Alicante, Spain, 5th century bc. In the Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid. Height 56.0 cm.
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Kneeling youth from Samos, Greece, ivory decorative finial for a cithara in the Daedalic style, c. 625 bc; in the Archaeological Museum, Samos, Greece
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Marble kouros from Anávissos, Greece, c. 540–515 bc; in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
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The “Kritios Boy,” marble kouros, c. 490–480 bc. In the Acropolis Museum, Athens. Height 86 cm.
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bc"/> Marble statue of a woman dedicated by Cheramyes to Hera, found in the Heraeum on Samos, Greece, c. 560 bc. In the Louvre, Paris. Height 1.92 m.
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Gorgon from the west pediment of the Temple of Artemis, Corcyra (Corfu), Greece, limestone, c. 580 bc. In the Archaeological Museum, Kérkira, Greece.
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“Ludovisi Throne,” c. 460 bc. In the Museo Nazionale Romano.
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“Atlas Brings Heracles the Apples of the Hesperides in the Presence of Athena,” marble metope from the east end of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, c. 460 bc. In the Archaeological Museum, Olympia, Greece. 1.60 m × 1.42 m.
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Discus Thrower, Roman marble copy of Greek bronze by Myron, c. 450 bc; in the National Roman Museum, Rome.
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“Charioteer,” bronze statue from the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, c. 470 bc. In the Archaeological Museum, Delphi, Greece. Height 1.8 m.
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Greek warrior, bronze statue, 5th century bc, one of a pair found in the Mediterranean Sea off Riace, Italy; in the National Museum, Reggio di Calabria, Italy. Height 2.0 m.
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Doryphorus (“Spear Bearer”), Roman marble copy of Greek bronze by Polyclitus, about 450–440 bc; in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.
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Probably Hestia, Dione, and Aphrodite, marble figures from the east pediment of the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis, c. 432 bc; in the British Museum, London. Over life-size.
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“Nike,” marble statue by Paeonius, c. 420 bc. In the Archaeological Museum, Olympia, Greece. Height 2.16 m.
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“Nike Adjusting Her Sandal,” marble relief from the balustrade of the Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis, Athens, c. 410–407 bc. In the Acropolis Museum, Athens. Height 1.07 m.
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“Hermes Carrying the Infant Dionysus,” marble statue by Praxiteles, c. 350–330 bc (or perhaps a fine Hellenistic copy of his original). In the Archaeological Museum, Olympia, Greece. Height 2.15 m.
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Battle between Greeks and Amazons, section of marble frieze from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus attributed to Scopas, Bryaxis, Leochares, and Timotheus, mid-4th century bc. In the British Museum, London. Height 89 cm.
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Apoxyomenos, Roman marble copy of Greek bronze by Lysippus, c. 330 bc; in the Vatican Museum, Rome.
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Hellenistic relief sculpture. Great altar of Zeus at Pergamum. In the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. (Top) Reconstruction of the west front. (Bottom) Frieze detail of Alcyoneus seized by the hair, from the marble relief on the east side of the great altar of Zeus, c. 180 bc.
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Vigorous action and dramatic emotion in Hellenistic sculpture. (Top) “Belvedere Torso,” marble by Apollonius, 1st century bc. In the Vatican Museums. (Bottom) “Dying Gaul,” marble Roman copy after a bronze original, from Pergamum, c. 230–220 bc. In the Museo Nazionale Romano.
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“Nike of Samothrace,” marble statue, c. 200 bc. In the Louvre, Paris. Height 2.44 m.
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Laocoön, marble sculpture attributed to Agesander, Athenodorus, and Polydorus of Rhodes (or perhaps a Roman copy), 2nd century bce–1st century ce; in the Vatican Museums.
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“Venus de Milo,” marble statue of Aphrodite from Melos, c. 150 bc. In the Louvre, Paris.
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“Veii Apollo,” clay statue, c. 500 bc. In the Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia, Rome. Height 1.75 m.
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Roman marble portraits of the Republic. (Top) Head of an elderly veiled man, c. 75–65 bc. In the Vatican Museums, Rome. Life-size. (Bottom) A Roman patrician with the busts of his ancestors, 1st century ad. In the Capitoline Museums, Rome. Life-size.
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Bronze statue of an orator (“Arringatore”), c. 150 bc. In the Museo Archeologico, Florence. Height 1.80 m.
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Augustus of Prima Porta, marble statue, c. 20 bc. In the Vatican Museums, Rome. Height 2.03 m.
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Ara Pacis, Rome, 13 bc. (Top) View of whole altar. (Bottom) “Mother Earth with Air and Water,” marble relief on the east exterior wall of the Ara Pacis. Height 1.57 m.
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Portrait of a woman of the Flavian period, marble, c. ad 90. In the Capitoline Museums, Rome. Life-size.
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Narrative sculpture. Lower portion of Trajan’s Column, marble, Rome, c. ad 106–113. Height of one relief band about 127 cm.
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Trajan’s Column, memorial with marble reliefs illustrating the two Dacian wars of 101–102 and 105–106; ad 106–113. In Trajan’s Forum, Rome.
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Medallions from the Arch of Constantine, Rome; medallions date from ad 117–138.
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Bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, in the Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome, c. ad 173. Height 5.03 m.
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Marble colossal head 2.41 metres (7.9 feet) high of Constantine the Great, part of the remains of a giant statue from the Basilica of Constantine (formerly the Basilica of Maxentius) in the Roman Forum, Rome, c. 313 ce; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.
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Detail of stucco decoration in a vaulted chamber of a subterranean basilica near Porta Maggiore, Rome, mid-1st century ad.
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Gemma Augustea, Roman sardonyx cameo, 1st century ad. In the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
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Detail from marble sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, c. 359. In the Museo Petriano, St. Peter’s, Vatican City.
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Ivory throne of Maximian, Archbishop of Ravenna, c. 550. In the Museo Arcivescovile, Ravenna. 149.9 × 60.0 cm.
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Early Byzantine ivory. Diptych of Flavius Anastasius with the consul enthroned and circus scenes below, 517. In the Cabinet des Médailles, Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, 35.6 × 25.4 cm.
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Ivories of the middle Byzantine period. (Top) Veroli casket depicting the rape of Europa, Hercules playing the lyre with centaurs and maenads, c. 1000. In the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. 11.5 × 40.5 × 15.5 cm. (Bottom) “Harbaville Triptych,” late 10th century. In the Louvre, Paris. Centre panel 24.2 × 14.2 cm.
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“Adam and Eve Reproached by the Lord,” bronze panel from the doors of Bishop Bernward at the cathedral, Hildesheim, West Germany, 1015. Panel 58.6 cm × 196 cm.
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The west tympanum and portal of the cathedral of Saint-Lazare, Autun, France, depicting the Last Judgment, carved by Gislebertus before 1135.
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French early Gothic architectural sculpture. (Top) Figures from the Old Testament, centre portal of the west front of Chartres cathedral, c. 1140–50. (Centre) Saints, south transept, Chartres cathedral, c. 1210–20. (Bottom) Apostles of the Judgment Portal, north transept, Reims cathedral, c. 1225.
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Styles of realism in portal sculpture in France. (Top) Statue of Christ (“Le Beau Dieu”), centre portal of the west facade, Amiens cathedral, c. 1220–30. (Bottom) Visitation, detail of the Virgin’s Portal, west facade, Reims cathedral, 1225–45.
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German Gothic sculpture. “Bamberg Horseman,” possibly a king or emperor, Bamberg cathedral, Germany, c. 1230–35.
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Ekkehard and Uta, statues from the west choir of the cathedral at Naumburg, Germany, c. 1250.
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Adoration of the Magi (detail) by Nicola Pisano, c. 1259–60; part of the marble pulpit in the Baptistery at Pisa.
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Marble pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, 1297–1301. In the church of San Andrea, Pistoia, Italy.
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(From left) Zechariah, Daniel, and Isaiah from the “Well of Moses,” marble sculpture by Sluter, 1395–1404/05; in the cloister of the Chartreuse de Champmol, Dijon, Fr.
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“The Washing of the Feet,” polychromed wood, detail from the retable of the High Altar, 1498. In Toledo cathedral, Spain.
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“St. George,” bronze copy of a marble statue by Donatello, begun c. 1415. In Or San Michele, Florence. (The original statue has been transferred to the Bargello, Florence.) Height 2.08 m.
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“Quattro Coronati” (“Four Crowned Saints”), life-size marble sculpture by Nanni di Banco, c. 1411–13; outside the Church of Or San Michele, Florence
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Gates of Paradise, gilded bronze doors from the east side of the Baptistery in Florence, by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1425–52.
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The Creation of Eve, marble relief on the central portal of the facade of San Petronio, Bologna, by Jacopo della Quercia, begun 1424.
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Equestrian statue of Gattamelata, bronze sculpture by Donatello, 1447–53; in the Piazza del Santo, Padua, Italy.
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“Hercules and Antaeus,” bronze statuette by Antonio Pollaiuolo, c. 1475; in the Bargello, Florence
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Bartolomeo Colleoni, bronze statue by Andrea del Verrocchio, 1483–88; in Campo di Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice.
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Pietà, marble sculpture by Michelangelo, 1499; in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome.
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Moses, marble sculpture by Michelangelo for the tomb of Pope Julius II, c. 1513–15; in the basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome.
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Marble tomb of Giuliano de’ Medici by Michelangelo, 1520–34. In the Medici Chapel, San Lorenzo, Florence.
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Perseus, bronze sculpture by Benvenuto Cellini, 1545–54; in the Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence.
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Mercury, bronze figure by Giambologna, c. 1580; in the Bargello Museum, Florence.
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Psyche with Three Cupids, bronze sculpture by Adriaen de Vries, c. 1593. In the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm. Height 1.88 metres.
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Nymphs from the “Fountain of the Innocents,” Paris, relief panels (after plaster casts), by Jean Goujon, 1547–49. About life-size.
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Gisants of Catherine de Médicis and Henry II by Germain Pilon, 1563–70; in the church of Saint-Denis, Paris
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Apollo and Daphne, marble sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1622–24; in the Borghese Gallery, Rome.
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“Meeting of Attila and Pope Leo,” colossal marble relief by Alessandro Algardi, 1646–53; in St. Peter’s, Rome
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Fontana di Trevi, Rome, designed and begun by Niccolò Salvi (1732) and completed by Giuseppe Pannini, 1762.
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“Pieta,” polychromed wood sculpture by Gregorio Hernández, 1617. In the Museo Nacional de Esculturas, Valladolid, Spain. Height 1.8 m.
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The tomb of Richelieu, begun 1675, with gisant by François Girardon; in the church of the Sorbonne, Paris
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“Milo of Crotona,” marble statue by Pierre Puget, 1671–84; in the Louvre, Paris
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Diana, bronze sculpture by Houdon, c. 1777; in the Louvre, Paris.
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Female satyr carrying two putti, terra-cotta statuette by Clodion; in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Md.
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“Guardian Angel,” painted wood sculpture by Ignaz Günther, 1763; in the Bürgersaal, Munich
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Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix"/> Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix, marble sculpture by Antonio Canova, 1805–07; in the Borghese Gallery, Rome.
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“Christ” from “Christ, John the Baptist and the Apostles,” marble statue by Bertel Thorvaldsen, 1821. In the Church of Our Lady, Copenhagen. Height 3.36 m.
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Departure of the Volunteers of 1792 (La Marseillaise), stone sculpture by François Rude, 1833–36; on the Arc de Triomphe, Paris. Approx. 12.8 × 7.9 m.
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Jaguar Devouring a Hare, bronze sculpture by Antoine-Louis Barye, 1850–51; in the Louvre, Paris. 41.9 × 95.2 cm.
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The Dance, stone sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, 1865–69; formerly on the facade of the Opéra, Paris, now in the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.
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“Christ of the Andes” by Mateo Alonso, 1902. In the Uspallata Pass on the border between Argentina and Chile.
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The Gates of Hell, bronze cast of original sculpture by Auguste Rodin. In the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
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Paulette, sculpture by Charles Despiau, 1910; in the National Museum of Modern Art, Paris.
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Seated Youth, composite tinted plaster sculpture by Wilhelm Lehmbruck, 1918; in the Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, Germany.
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Torso of a Young Girl, onyx on a stone base by Constantin Brancusi, 1922; in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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Figure, bronze sculpture by Jacques Lipchitz, 1926–30; in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
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Kneeling Woman, plaster cast of original sculpture by Wilhelm Lehmbruck, 1911; in the Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, Germany.
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“Monument to the Third International,” model designed by Vladimir Tatlin, 1920, reconstruction by U. Linde and P.O. Ultvedt completed in 1968 by A. Holm, E. Nandorf, and H. Östberg; in the Modern Museum, Stockholm, The National Swedish Art Museums.
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Ancient Greek sculpture, especially those of human figures, had a great influence on the sculptors of the Renaissance.