Praxiteles

Praxiteles was primarily a 4th-century BCE Greek sculptor of the Late Classical period, not the later Hellenistic period. His relaxed poses and softer treatment of the body influenced Hellenistic artists.

The Aphrodite of Knidos became famous for presenting the goddess nude in a monumental cult image. Praxiteles' original is lost, but ancient copies and literary descriptions preserve its importance in Greek art history.

The marble Hermes and the Infant Dionysus at Olympia is traditionally attributed to Praxiteles, although its attribution remains discussed by scholars. It was discovered at Olympia in 1877 and shows the relaxed, naturalistic style associated with him.

Apollo Sauroktonos, or Apollo the Lizard-Slayer, shows the god leaning toward a lizard in a deliberately informal pose. The original bronze is lost, and surviving versions are Roman copies or later interpretations of the Praxitelean composition.