The Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Winged Victory of Samothrace is a marble Hellenistic sculpture of the Greek goddess Nike, which means Victory. It was created in the 2nd century BC. Since 1884, it has been prominently displayed at the Louvre and is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world. In the summer of 2019, I was able to view The Winged Victory of Samothrace in person at the Louvre in Paris, France. To say this felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity is an understatement. First of all, just to be in the Louvre was fascinating. Second of all, walking to the end of a naturally lighted corridor, where I just passed Greek statue after Greek statue, then to walk up the Daru staircase, only to gaze upon this magnificent sculpture, was like something out of this world. It was lighted by the natural afternoon sunlight shining through the glass window nearby that almost gave it a glow. The attention to detail and the smooth lines of her dress made it look like she could step off of the bow of the ship at any moment. I had no idea that the sports brand, Nike, used this sculpture as a basis for the brand. When the sculpture is viewed from the side, you can see the resemblance to the Nike swoosh. I think that the sculpture was built to honor the goddess of Nike and also to commemorate a naval victory. When looking at the sculpture, I definitely felt a sense of pride over a victory won; as if she represents a victory in battle.
A few elements of art used in this sculpture are mass, texture, and movement, or form.
The mass or great size of the sculpture is used to symbolize a great victory won. The mass creates an idea of strength. It weighs in at around 29 tons. The statue itself is over 9 feet tall. The ship that the goddess is standing on is 9 feet 3 inches tall and represents a strong, sturdy ship on her way home from victory. The texture is noticed in the goddess’s wings. They have a detailed feathered texture to make them look spread out and ready to soar. Movement is seen most notably in the intense, intricate sculpting of her clothes. It looks as though they drape down her body. This adds to the sense of motion in the piece. In some areas of her body, the clothing seems thicker, then thinner, as if it is stuck to her body because of the seawater. If you view the statue from three-quarters to the statue’s right-hand side, it follows the form of a right triangle.
One of the most noticeable principles of art used in the sculpture is proportion. Although the goddess and the ship are the same height, she looks so much smaller because of the sheer width and length of the ship. It makes her look more feminine and petite. The use of repetition is evident in her clothing. The repetition of waves in the garment is inspiring. There is a variety in the movement which creates the illusion of movement.
The offering of a statue of a goddess perched on a ship was a religious act in honor of the gods. In this case, to honor a victorious sea battle. The intent of the artist was to create a magnificent representation of victory. The artist gave the goddess a strong, sturdy mass (ship) to carry her to victory. The goddess soars in the wind on her way to victory. Without the ship, which represents the hard work and determination, the Goddess of Victory could not make her presence known. She and the victory must be noticed and appreciated.
My personal response to The Winged Victory of Samothrace has only grown since my formal analysis and research. I could see movement in the intricate carvings of her dress, but in researching her, to find out that it is actually to show a partially wet garment because of the ocean water, just makes me admire the artist and the statue even more. She looks real. She looks like she just won a great battle and is soaring through the oceans declaring her victory. This statue honestly makes me emotional. There is an amazing strength to be felt. Even without a head and arms, you see and feel her pride and strength. I am saddened to know that the artist is unknown. It makes me wonder if the sculpture is in its finished form, or if having a head and arms would add to the overall emotional effect. To me, this work of art is priceless. Also, the fact that it is displayed in the Louvre, gives it admiration and acclaim that would make the sculptor proud. The way its creator managed to carve out of solid marble the impression of movement and lightness makes it a masterpiece.
