Standing Aeschines

Standing Aeschines

50 AD; Roman copy of Late Classical-Early Hellenistic original, ca. 320-310 BC

Unknown

Marble

210 cm tall

Italy, Herculaneum, Villa of the Papyri

National Museum, Naples

Aeschines, born in Athens, was the son of a schoolmaster named Atrometos, and Glaukothea. His father had lost his fortune in the Peloponnesian War, forcing Aeschines to learn to make a living early. He became a soldier, a schoolmaster, a scribe, an actor, and most notably an orator, due to his natural speaking abilities. The fall of Olynthus in 348 BC sent Aeschines as a member of the embassy to negotiate peace with Philip II of Macedon; he was sent again in 346 BC as a member of the second embassy. On his return, he was charged by Timarchos with accepting a bribe and he replied in his speech “Against Timarchos.” In 343 BC, he was accused of treachery by Demosthenes and he replied with his speech “On the Embassy.” In 337 BC, when Ctesiphon proposed that Demosthenes should be rewarded with a golden crown for his service to the state, Aeschines accused him of violating the law. In 330 BC, the case was heard and the two rivals delivered their speeches “Against Ctesiphon” and “On the Crown,” but Aeschines failed to obtain the necessary one-fifth of the votes and was fined 1,000 drachmas and voluntary exiled himself to Rhodes where he opened a school of rhetoric. He eventually moved to Samos, where he died, about 75 years old.

Description:
The life-size portrait of Aeschines represents the orator wearing a chiton, himation, and sandals. The statue is depicted standing in a characteristic pose; it seems relaxed, but carefully composed. He is standing in contrapposto with his right leg forward with the knee slightly bent and his left leg back, leaning against a strut for support. There is a scroll bucket, or scrinium, located at the statue's feet. The left hand of the portrait statue is placed on his hip seemingly within the drapery while his right arm is tucked into the drapery across his chest. The numerous folds in the drapery both illustrate the artist's skill and highlight the uniqueness of the garment itself. The expression on Aeschines’ face is placid with a hint of a furrowed brow. He appears to be portrayed looking into the distance, slightly downward. His jaw is strong and square, his hair is curled, and he has a short-cropped beard. The portrait is comprised of many rejoined fragments; parts of the drapery, left eyebrow, and lips have been restored.

Significance:
Many elements present in ‘Standing Aeschines’ illustrate the Athenian’s role as an orator. The intensity of his expression and pose along with the realistically rendered drapery give the subject an air of confidence associated with public speaking. Other characteristics commonly found in portraits of this nature are the curled hair, short-cropped beard, furrowed brow, and square jaw; these attributes are also observed in military-type statues of the time. The similarity in characteristics between these two types serves as a bridge between the intellectual traits and those connected to active (political) service, transferring the kind of maturity and authority one would associate with a military figure to the orator-politician type. The pose Aeschines stands in is meant to portray self-control and reserve in contrast to speakers of his own day who he saw as immodest. The choice of clothing Aeschines is depicted in is also significant. Up until the Hellenistic period, the wearing of both himation and chiton in art is very unusual. Thus, the depiction of Aeschines in this portrait represents one of the earliest examples of a new trend in male dress.

Dillon, S. 2012. Ancient Greek Portrait Sculpture: Contexts, Subjects, and Styles, pp. 61-63.

Richter, G. M. 1965. The Portraits of the Greeks, pp. 73-75, 110-111.

www.britannica.com/biography/Aeschines

Lauren Kershenbaum