Viddler

The Dying Slave was intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II (see the Moses statue comments). One of the sculptor's greatest creations, the figure of Moses was intended for the tomb and was actually finished; a few others including Victory and The...

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The Dying Slave was intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II (see the Moses statue comments). One of the sculptor's greatest creations, the figure of Moses was intended for the tomb and was actually finished; a few others including Victory and The Dying Slave were almost finished. Some, called Captive, were left half emerging from the stone. The Dying Slave, like the other captive figures, expresses a vain struggle for freedom of the soul. The sinuous figure, constricted by tight bonds, seems to struggle with almost serpentine grace to free itself. The opposing triangles formed by the arms and the bent knee are the principal elements of the design. The hardness of stone is concealed in the subtle modeling of the figure whose grace of body and muscle is reminiscent of Praxiteles.

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