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Lot Essay
Menander was a prominent Greek playwright of the New comedy period, born around 342 B.C. in Athens. He authored over 100 comedies, of which only fragments and one complete play, "Dysolos", have survived. Menander's works are characterized by their sophisticated plots, character-driven humour, and exploration of social themes such as love, family and human folly. His influence extended beyond Greece, significantly impacting Roman playwrights like Plautus and Terence. Menander's ability to capture the nuances of everyday life with wit and insight earned him a lasting legacy in the annals of theatrical history.
See G.M.A. Richter, Portraits of the Greeks, London, 1965, vol. II, pp. 224-236, figs 1514-1637 for a discussion of the portraits of Menander. This Roman copy is most likely after the original Greek bronze seated statue by Kephisodotos and Timarchos, the sons of Praxiteles, which according to Pausanias was set up after Menander's death in the Theatre of Dionysos at Athens, circa 292 B.C.
See G.M.A. Richter, Portraits of the Greeks, London, 1965, vol. II, pp. 224-236, figs 1514-1637 for a discussion of the portraits of Menander. This Roman copy is most likely after the original Greek bronze seated statue by Kephisodotos and Timarchos, the sons of Praxiteles, which according to Pausanias was set up after Menander's death in the Theatre of Dionysos at Athens, circa 292 B.C.