Art Analysis - The Goddess of Victory

With every piece of art that comes before me, I take a moment to take it in and appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of the artist. Rarely, however, do I come across a piece that just leaves me in complete awe, taking me down a spiral to analyze the elements that make up the piece and its story. 

Currently residing in The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, perches a sculpture looking down at all of the museum-goers who approach it. Standing at 10.76 feet, this piece of ancient art towers over all, emphasizing strength and dominance. The Winged Victory of Samothrace is well known all across the globe, for good reason. It is truly a site to experience and a dream to stand below its towering presence in person. 

When looking at the work, the history of the piece may be unclear; however, once you plunge into its story, the elements of the piece come to life. The feminine figure was unearthed in 1863 on the Greek Island of Samothrace. This island was once a sanctuary dedicated to the Great Gods of Ancient Greece, who were relied on by many at sea for its protection as they venture out into the rough waters. This island is home to many mysteries, one being the mystery cult that was theorized to have special initiation rituals with sacred tales, symbols, formulas, and special rituals oriented toward the Great Gods of Samothrace. Because of the secrecy sworn by the mystery cult, little is known about the exact practices, and there may never be.

This strong, powerful figure of Samothrace was not whole when Charles Champoiseau first discovered it in 1863. Actually, over 100 remnants of this sculpture were unearthed. This symbol of strength was once strewn across the Earth, underlining that even the most powerful emblems have the ability to be broken down and shattered. With the statue being of Ancient Greek origin, the piece is estimated to have been brought into existence in 190 B.C. by an artist commissioned to celebrate the victory of a sea battle, and gifted to the Great Gods for its protection throughout. With its discovery in 1863 and its expected year of creation in 190 B.C., the piece is estimated to be over 2,200 years old. It is impossible to calculate just how long the piece was in disarray, but with the fact that the goddess was discovered deep in the Earth's crust, as well as the base that once homed the statue, it must have been broken and forgotten about for many lifetimes. 

With the rediscovery of Nike, the goddess of victory, restoration began to take place. Gradually, the broken shards of marble were pieced together once more, bringing back the goddess that represented the strength of the sailors who once fought for their lives amongst the ship in the Aegean Sea. Restoration of the rare piece of Hellenistic Art brought the now infamous elements of the goddess to life once more. The form of the statue is representational of that of a woman, the ideal feminine figure of Ancient Greece detailing the form with the emphasized curves of the breasts and hips. The sheer size of the goddess, being 10.76 feet, creates depth that is perceived to indicate power over all. With the Gods of Ancient Greece being worshipped, it was vital to create a form the Goddess of Victory would approve of. The emphasized curves of the body represent grace and beauty. The three-dimensional aspect of the figure highlights a life-like depiction of how the goddess was viewed. All of these aspects were crucial in the creation of Nike as her presented form was carefully thought-out to honor her respectfully. Though not the original form of the sculpture, the lack of a head and arms only enhances the figure and truly makes it stand out. The restored form of this art does not need the addition of facial expressions and hand movements to reveal the underlying meaning behind the art: the remaining form of the figure speaks for itself with its powerful pose and intimidating size.

Women of curvaceous body types were commonly used to depict the goddesses of Greece, as this form represents health and wealth. Curvy lines are utilized to represent the ideals of the time period. The flowing curves of the goddess figure represent the prestigious, lively form. Those of this body type was viewed as ethereal, thus, leading to many goddess depictions with lines that consistently flow to outline these curves. The lines of the artwork are never sharp or harsh, but rather flow effortlessly to further present the goddess Nike. Each line was carefully considered in order to honor the goddess for her assistance in the protection of the sailors. 

The texture is a vital aspect of this piece. One could easily rely on touch to outline the depiction of the piece and gather information about the presentation. From the feathered patterns on the wings to the draped clothing, each texture has a deep meaning. The drapes of her tunic are wavy as if to indicate movement from intense winds mid-storm. The fabric spewed across the stomach is tightly pressed against her body and gives a sheer aspect that can indicate wetness from the salt water. The fabric on the lower half of the figure is flowing backward, the textured folds bringing this imaginary gust of wind to life. Meanwhile, underneath the rough, strewn textures of the clothing, the skin appears to be smooth to the touch to fourth give the figure its ethereal beauty. All of these textures pair together to create that portrayal of strength and protection regardless of the natural force against it.

The creation of The Winged Victory of Samothrace is powerful enough on its own, but the placement of the goddess truly enhances the symbolism behind the work. Inside the Louvre Museum, the piece stands alone at the end of a staircase, hovering above all who approach it. The view from the opening of the Daru staircase is dramatic, the statue being distant and yet still the focal point. The surrounding environment is neutral to further attract the eye to the centerpiece. Shades of gold are etched throughout the room to give a slight flattering effect to the tones of the marble. The natural light from above the statue shines down as if to give an elegant glow. This placement recreates exactly how those of Ancient Greece would view the goddess, the pride and center of attention in their lives. Upon approach, the goddess of victory brings chills as it gives those an intense emotion of triumph and achievement, much as it did to the sailors years passed. 

References

"A Stairway To Victory". Le Louvre, 2022, https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/a-stairway-to-victory.

"Winged Victory: The Nike Of Samothrace". Brewminate: A Bold Blend Of News And Ideas, 2022,   https://brewminate.com/winged-victory-the-nike-of-samothrace/.

 Karoglou, Kiki. “Mystery Cults in the Greek and Roman World.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The                        Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2013, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/myst/hd_myst.htm.