Essay, Research Paper: Formal Analysis: Metropoitan Museum,

Sleeping Eros
Bronze
Hellenistic late 3rd-2nd Century B.C.
43.11.4

It was a very difficult choice to make on this project. What piece of art would I
write this report on, when there are just so many to choose from at the Metropolitan. When long
and behold, when I turned my back around for a split second I spotted this work that not only
caught my eye, but my entire interests. This bronze sculpture of a little cupid in a solemn
slumber was a work like I haven't seen ever before. I figure this would be piece that I could
really write about so without further a due, let me get started.

First thing that is noticed on this piece was that it was undeniably different and not hard
for me to say unique. It had a charismatic charm that drew the artistic impressionist out of my
hidden soul and brought about a new view on the culture I have never thought upon. I was only
left to think of how this work was too look when it was first created by its unknown maker, and
what was his thoughts of his masterful creation.

I'll start with the most noticeable factor of Eros, which is as any one who has seen this
piece would say would be the shape of the body of this childish figure. Anyone could say it
looks like nothing more than a child with wings, but that's anybody. There was a lot more to it,
like in the way the body appeared different from traditional Greek style. Greeks tended to make
their figures very perfect in every sense. The figures were given structure and bodies that people
today pay millions of dollars to obtain. That image falls opposite of Eros, he's made up as a
chubby baby, but made as to almost take qualities that the adult body possesses. As it is evident
in his legs, they are made of bigger portions in comparison to the rest of his body. They are also
made to look very muscular toned, not exactly what you would see on a child; but of coarse this
the son of a god we're talking about here, so I guess it could be acceptable to see this in a child
then. The details put into Eros's hand seem to also take on the depicting features of and adults
hands. They are very detailed right down to the fingers nails, but they don't look like the type of
hands an infant would have.

One of the most profound features would have to be the extremely accented hair and
wings of Eros. The hair is typical Greek, as to say that the Greeks paid a lot of attention in
stressing the hair. The hair is given so much care as almost make it seem real. This has always
been a notable factor in all Greek work; as Sybil Shepard says, "Hair is Everything". The crown
is always made to stand out so it can draw us to these works as to look at them as if they were
really there in person. I mean, why else would so much pain staking time be put into every
strand of hair, to make every curl appear like no other on its crown. Another great point of
interest was the wings of the Eros. They were positioned in a distinct way I found odd for Greek
sculptures. They were laid on to each other with one of them even slightly lying under the body
of Eros, which I found to be odd. Most sculptures were done with the subjects standing in
simple form, which of coarse which wasn't apparent in this work; but the wings were in a
placement that had to allow to use your imagination of what the rest of the work would have to
look like because it wasn't set to be in a all viewing pose. Like the hair, the feathers were also
marked with the same style of precision sculpting, which gave breathe to the lifeless sculpture.

Now last but not least, we've come to the face. There not to much that I could say about
the face. In it's simplest form it was nothing less or more then classic Greek. It held all the
expected qualities and features that we've come to expect from the Greeks. Everything from the
classic, non-incandescent, almost blind eyes that always leaves the face seeming blank. The face
as well was not much of anything to really talk about; simplicity seems to be the focus in facial
with Greeks as it was here. The only thing I found odd was that the mouth was slightly left
open, but after some thought I came to the conclusion this was probably a factor used by the artist
to perform when he caste the bronze onto the sculpture.

In finishing I'm left with very little bit more to say about Eros, but there is something
about this assignment that I will be able to take away with myself I never thought I would gain.
One was a entire new hobby in visiting museums. Another was a whole new view and kinship
with people who define a new meaning for the word Art, with every new work that they create.
It doesn't take many to appreciate a piece to call it art, all you need is one.