Five statues 

Gaspare Diziani created this pen and brown ink drawing, "Five Statues," sometime in the 18th century, now residing in the Städel Museum. Note how each figure strikes a different pose, each an embodiment of classical ideals. The gestures, so reminiscent of ancient sculptures, are not merely aesthetic choices but vehicles of emotional expression. For instance, consider the figure with the raised arm. It echoes the gesture of classical orators and heroes, harking back to the figures in ancient Roman friezes. This pose carries with it a sense of authority, perhaps even divine command. We see this motif echoed through time in Renaissance paintings and even later in Neoclassical sculptures. Think of Michelangelo's David or Bernini's Apollo and Daphne; the dynamism and emotional intensity conveyed through posture remain a constant thread. The human mind recognizes these gestures on a subconscious level, responding to the underlying emotional and psychological cues that have been imprinted upon our collective memory. Like the reappearance of ancient gods in new forms, such gestures never truly disappear.