What Is the Best Known Sculpture in Art History?

Art|Art History

This is a difficult question to answer since there are so many great sculptures that have been created throughout history and it is hard to pick just one. However, some of the most iconic sculptures in art history are those created by ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.

The most famous of these sculptures is probably the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, which was created by the ancient Greek sculptor Phidias around 432 BC. This statue depicted Zeus in a seated position on a grand throne and was so impressive that it was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was made using ivory and gold and stood at an impressive height of 12 meters.

Other well-known sculptures from ancient Greece include the Winged Victory of Samothrace, which was sculpted out of marble around 190 BC, and the Laocoön Group, which is believed to have been created between 42-20 BC. The Winged Victory depicts Nike (the goddess of victory) standing on top of a ship’s prow while Laocoön Group depicts two warriors struggling with two snakes. Both sculptures are widely considered masterpieces and are now housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

From ancient Rome, perhaps the most iconic sculpture is Augustus of Prima Porta, which depicts Augustus Caesar in a heroic pose wearing military dress and holding a spear. This sculpture was originally created between 20-10 BC but has since been copied multiple times throughout history and can now be found in many museums around the world.

In conclusion, while it is impossible to pick just one sculpture as “the best” known sculpture in art history; some of the most iconic works include those created by ancient Greek and Roman civilizations such as The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Winged Victory or Samothrace, Laocoön Group, and Augustus of Prima Porta.