The Lesche of the Knidians: Polygnotos and Drapery

Nike Sculpture, Olympia
Polygnotos is also known for his wind-blown draperies that revealed the form beneath. Some scholars believe this is due to the sea breezes of his homeland, the Island of Thasos, that would have swept across the island. Ancient sources also remark on Polygnotos' ability to make drapery look fine and transparent or heavy with many folds, his use of shading and brush stroke considered revolutionary. The Nike from the Parthenon in Athens is an example of the transparent wet-drapery look made famous by Polygnotos, the Boston Nike representative of the heavier "eye folds" drapery style.





Previous Section | Next Section

Introduction | Archaeology | Reconstruction | The Paintings | Layout and Design | Material and Color | The Iliupersis | Epigram by Simonides | The Nekyia | Chronology | Kimon | Knidos | Reflections in Other Media | The Niobid Painter | Drapery | Sculpture | Conclusion | Bibliography

Please note: all student papers hosted by the Perseus Project are offered "as is." Papers are the work of students: the project does not edit, revise, update, or otherwise endorse the content of these pages. These papers may not be copied or reproduced elsewhere; see our copyright page for more information. Please feel free to link to these materials. We do not retain contact information for the authors.