Detail of the Sculpture of an Athlete in the Getty Villa, June 2016

Marble Athlete
Roman, AD 75-100
Marble

Inventory # 73.AA.3

The elongated body and soft facial features of this sculpture follow the style of the Greek sculptor Lysippos, (active about 370-315 BC) The work of Lysippos, who was famous for his statues of athletes, was favored by the Romans, and many Roman sculptures were carved in his manner. Compared to the torso nearby, this figure is marked by longer proportions, lighter musculature, and a more nuanced pose. The sculptor's approach features a restless energy, conveying the sense of an action caught in time.

Text from the Getty Villa museum label.