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M. Marvin, “Freestanding Sculptures from the Baths of Caracalla” Article Review – Essay Sample

M. Marvin, “Freestanding Sculptures from the Baths of Caracalla” Article Review – Essay Sample

The article studies the sculptural program of the Baths of Caracalla, the only Baths whose sculptural decorations remained. The first excavations in 1540s resulted in large-scale sculptures like Herakles Farnese, the Punishment of Dirke, Polykleitan Herakles and many other findings. The investigations focused on the restoration of sculptures, as well as on the detection of sculpture positions. Marwin provides the list of 41 sculptures that are attributed to the Baths of Caracalla.

Presently, the position of only two statues in Central Hall is determined precisely, while others are hypothetically located somewhere in the room. Despite the absence of perfectly accurate plan of the Baths available, it has been proved that the project of the building had multiple niches for the statues. Besides niches location, the statues were also set on the floor. Numerous fragments excavated (head of the Doryphoros of Polykleitos, hand holding a syrinx, hand of a statue holding a cup, fragment of a draped woman and many others) do not allow reconstructing the sculptural groups and hamper their adequate content interpretation. For example, the Achilles and Troilos group portrays a man carrying a dead child; however, it is still impossible to identify the character of relationships between them. Researchers provide contradictory opinions: the warrior had killed the boy, or he had taken the body away from the enemies.

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