Winged Victory of Samothrace (Nike of Samothrace) 190 BC

Headless, armless, yet she endures! The iconic statue known as the ‘Winged Victory of Samothrace’ is even missing her feet. Yet to this day, she stands tall at the head of the main staircase in the Louvre Museum, where she has been displayed since 1884. ️ Why is she so famous? ‘Winged Victory of Samothrace’ is almost unique in that this is an original Greek sculpture rather than a later Roman copy. Dated to 190 BC, the statue was sculpted during the Hellenistic Period (the time between the death of Alexander the Great and the Roman Conquest). According to traditional art historical narratives, this era marked an artistic decline from the previous Classical period. Yet it produced some of the most celebrated works of the ancient world. Hellenistic art is characterised by a focus on extreme emotion. This is often compared to the theatricality of the Baroque era, a movement which occurred over 1500 years later. The statue was discovered on Samothrace (a Greek island) in 1863. The island was the site of the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, a vast temple complex dedicated to several gods and goddesses. It’s now believed that ‘Winged Victory’ was intended as a votive monument – a piece of art left as a sacred sacrifice. This sculpture depicts Nike… no, not the sports brand! In Greek mythology, Nike was the goddess of Victory, especially in the context of battle. ‘Winged Victory’ herself is 9 feet tall, and stands atop of a pedestal shaped as a warship. The pedestal adds a further 9 feet of height. Can you imagine the Greek worshippers bowing before the vast monument? Here, Nike wears a chiton (a type of tunic which fastens at the shoulder). It has been expertly carved from white Parian marble to suggest a thin and fine fabric. The fabric clings to her body, emphasising her naturalistic curves. The sculptor used the ‘wet drapery’ technique to give the impression that the fabric is drifting in the wind. Her angelic feathered wings stretch out behind her, clearly suggesting that the goddess has just landed on the bow of the ship. This adds to the sense of dynamism and brings another aspect of life to the figure.