The New Student's Reference Work/Praxiteles

Praxiteles (prăx-ĭt′ḗ-lēz), one of the greatest sculptors of ancient Greece. Of his life little is known, except that he was a citizen of Athens in the 4th century B. C. His principal works, most of which have perished, were statues of Aphrodite, Eros, Dionysius, Apollo and Hermes carrying Dionysius. Feminine beauty and Bacchic pleasures were his favorite subjects, and in his treatment of these he displayed the greatest sweetness, grace and naturalness. He has been justly called the sculptor of the beautiful.