Spear Bearer (Doryphoros)

A first century A.D. larger-than-life-size (74 in. [ 2 m.]) marble statue copied from a bronze statue originally done by Polykleitos of Argos ca. 450 B.C. 

The statue originally carried a spear in his left hand.  Note how the weight of the person is placed on the right leg while the left leg is balancing on the ball of the foot conveying the moment of cessation of forward movement.

Polykleitos developed rules of proportion (a canon) for the human body that subsequent sculptures followed and built upon.  He and other classical sculptors stressed the ideal of physical perfection emphasizing ideal proportions, smooth skin, regular facial features, etc.

For a view of the back side of this statue Click Here.

This piece is normally displayed in the Museo Archaeologico Nazionale in Naples Italy.