Georgios Bonanos lived in a period of transition for modern Greek sculpture. It was a time when a number of artists had begun abandoning neoclassical styles and subject matter in favor of realism.<\/p>\n
“Nana” is a daring composition, inspired by Emile Zola\u2019s novel of the same name. It displays the influence of this particular literary work on Greek art as well as Bonanos\u2019 shift towards realistic subject matter. Nonetheless, the rendition remains neoclassical. The marble surface is highly refined and the heroine is depicted nude with a tranquil face that is almost indifferent to her body\u2019s sensual pose. <\/p>\n
Bonanos showed this work in 1900 at the Paris Exhibition, where it won the bronze medal. In 1938 he exhibited it in the Panhellenic exhibition at the Zappeion in Athens. Bold for its time, it provoked considerable debate. At any rate, the sculptor later changed the title to “Huntress”. This change was probably due to Bonanos\u2019 Hellenocentric ideology, but also could have been his attempt to avoid scandal. Nonetheless, the dog, the lion\u2019s skin, and the bow and quiver associate the young woman with Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, \u201cmistress\u201d and \u201cenchantress\u201d of animals, who here becomes the temptress of men.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Georgios Bonanos lived in a period of transition for modern Greek sculpture. It was a time when a number of artists had begun abandoning neoclassical styles and subject matter in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55316,"template":"","artwork_category":[118],"artwork_type":[65],"location":[58],"class_list":["post-14774","artwork","type-artwork","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","artwork_category-from-neoclassicism-to-realism","artwork_type-sculpture","location-national-glyptotheque"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n