In this video on Polykleitos’ Doryphorous, the narrator deconstructs the features that collectively compose contrapposto. First, the narrator begins to explain that Polykleitos uses “theoretical rods” to highlight key points in the body- head, shoulders, knees, and feet- and defines two lines vertically and horizontally across the body that splits into 4 even quadrants. Demonstrated in the video, the model positioned his body bending his right knee back- adjusting the weight on his left hip to make the left leg straight- holding his right arm in mid air, leaving the left arm hanging- and lastly, positioning his head to the left. To further explain the elements of contrapposto on the positioned model, the narrator explains that the features from top to bottom on both left and right sides of the body mirror each other; right arm and leg are bent- left arm and leg remain relaxed. From the horizontal perspective, each limb across from one another are demonstrating opposite positisions; right arm bent and left leg relaxed and vice versa- this creates the counter balance known as contrapposto.
However, when presented with the question of error in this video, my first inclination was to think that the positioning of the model’s body was incorrect. Originally, I thought the body was mean’t to be positioned so that the right arm and left leg were bent while the left arm and right leg remained relaxed, creating opposite effect on each quarter of the body. After reviewing multiple images of the Doryphorous and examining the angles highlighted in the video, I realized that the model’s position was correct. To conclude, I am not sure whether there was an error in the narrators explanation of Polykleitos’ Doryphorous.
