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atlas (architecture)

{{redirect|Atlantid|the family of sea snails|Atlantidae|the companions of Artemis|Atlantids|the racial category|Atlantid race}}

{{short description|Architectural support sculpted in the form of a man}}

File:Sankt Florian Stift Haupttor Atlant links.jpg atlas at St. Florian Monastery, Austria, by Leonhard Sattler]]

File:La Porta Nuova (Palerme) (6881310634).jpg defeated by Charles V, Porta Nuova, Palermo]]

File:Paris 45 rue Saint-Roch 2012 02.jpg atlantes on Rue Saint-Roch no. 45, Paris, by Bruno Pellissier, 1917]]

In European architectural sculpture, an atlas (also known as an atlant, or atlante Hersey, George, The Lost Meaning of Classical Architecture, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1998 p. 129 or atlantid; plural atlantes)[http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/Aru.html Aru-Az] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704103828/http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/Aru.html |date=2008-07-04 }}, Michael Delahunt, [http://www.artlex.com/ ArtLex Art Dictionary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050424084418/http://www.artlex.com/ |date=2005-04-24 }}, 1996–2008. is a support sculpted in the form of a man, which may take the place of a column, a pier or a pilaster. The Roman term for such a sculptural support is telamon' (plural telamones or telamons).

The term atlantes is the Greek plural of the name Atlas—the Titan who was forced to hold the sky on his shoulders for eternity. The alternative term, telamones, also is derived from a later mythological hero, Telamon, one of the Argonauts, who was the father of Ajax.

The caryatid is the female precursor of this architectural form in Greece, a woman standing in the place of each column or pillar. Caryatids are found at the treasuries at Delphi and the Erechtheion on the Acropolis at Athens for Athene. They usually are in an Ionic context and represented a ritual association with the goddesses worshiped within.Harris, Cyril M., ed., Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture, Dover Publications, New York, 1983. The Atlante is typically life-size or larger; smaller similar figures in the decorative arts are called terms. The body of many Atlantes turns into a rectangular pillar or other architectural feature around the waist level, a feature borrowed from the term. The pose and expression of Atlantes very often show their effort to bear the heavy load of the building, which is rarely the case with terms and caryatids. The herma or herm is a classical boundary marker or wayside monument to a god which is usually a square pillar with only a carved head on top, about life-size, and male genitals at the appropriate mid-point. Figures that are rightly called Atlantes may sometimes be described as herms.

Atlantes express extreme effort in their function, heads bent forward to support the weight of the structure above them across their shoulders, forearms often lifted to provide additional support, providing an architectural motif. Atlantes and caryatids were noted by the Roman late Republican architect Vitruvius, whose description of the structures,Vitruvius, De Architectura, 6.7.6. rather than surviving examples, transmitted the idea of atlantes to the Renaissance architectural vocabulary.

Origin

Not only did the Caryatids precede them, but similar architectural figures already had been made in ancient Egypt out of monoliths. Atlantes originated in Greek Sicily and in Magna Graecia, Southern Italy. The earliest surviving atlantes are fallen ones from the Early Classical Greek temple of Zeus, the Olympeion, in Agrigento, Sicily.{{cite web| url = http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2008/05/vitruvius-caryatids-and-telamones.html| title = Dorothy King, "Doric Figured Supports: Vitruvius' Caryatids and Atlantes: 5.2 Atlantes and Telamones"}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Atlantes also played a significant role in Mannerist and Baroque architecture.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the designs of many buildings featured glorious atlantes that looked much like Greek originals. Their inclusion in the final design

for the portico of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg that was built for Tsar Nicholas I of Russia in the 1840’s made the use of atlantes especially fashionable. The Hermitage portico incorporates ten enormous atlantes, approximately three times life-size, carved from Serdobol granite, which were designed by Johann Halbig and executed by the sculptor Alexander Terebenev.

Mesoamerica

Similar carved stone columns or pillars in the shape of fierce men at some sites of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica are typically called Atlantean figures. These figures are considered to be "massive statues of Toltec warriors".{{cite book|last=Evans|first=Susan|title=Ancient Mexico and Central America: Archaeology and Culture History|year=2008|publisher=Thames & Hudson Ltd.|location=London|pages=42}}

Examples

Gallery

File:Pergamon Museum Parts of Inanna temple facade in Uruk 1597.jpg|Sumerian façade of the Inanna Temple of Karaindash, Uruk, {{circa}}1413 BC, overall height: 211 cm, Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin, Germany

File:Templo de Ramsés II, Abu Simbel, Egipto, 2022-04-02, DD 62-64 HDR.jpg|First Pillared Hall, with eight Osiride statues of Ramsses II, Temple of Ramsses II, Abu Simbel, Egypt, 13th century BC

File:Thelemon in situ - Model of Temple of Zeus - Museo Archeologico Regionale - Agrigento - Italy 2015.JPG|Model of Ancient Greek, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Agrigento, Sicily, original 5th century BC, Agrigento museum

File:Agrigent Telamon.jpg|Ancient Greek atlas from the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Agrigento, 5th century BC, Agrigento Museum

File:TulaSite81.JPG|Colossal Toltec atlantes, Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico, {{circa}}900–1100 AD, approximate height: 4.88 m{{cite book|last1=Robertson|first1=Jean|last2=Hutton|first2=Deborah|title=The History of Art: A Global View: Prehistory to the Present |date=2022|publisher=Thames & Hudson|isbn=978-0-500-02236-8|page=505|url=|language=en}}

File:Atlante, Chichen Itza, Mexique.jpg|Maya kneeling atlas, 900-1250, limestone, Musée du Quai Branly, Paris

File:Chapiteau mozac atlantes 2.JPG|Romanesque capital with atlantes, Abbey of Saint-Pierre Mozac, Mozac, France, {{circa}}11th century

File:Odeon of Agrippa Athens agora.jpg|The remains of Triton-shaped atlantes from the Odeon of Agrippa, Athens, Greece

File:Atlantes cathedrale Sainte-Marie Oloron.jpg|Romanesque atlantes in chains at Oloron Cathedral, France, 12th century

File:Laon Cathedrale South facade sculptures 02.jpg|Gothic atlas on Laon Cathedral, France, 12th-13th centuries

File:Palazzo te, appartamento del giardino segreto, cortile e giardino, stucchi con le favole di esopo, la volpe e la cicogna.jpg|Renaissance atlantes in the courtyard of the Palazzo del Te, in the suburbs of Mantua, Italy, designed by Giulio Romano, 1524–1534

File:Dijon geants.jpg|Renaissance atlantes in the courtyard of the {{ill|Maison Maillard|fr}}, Dijon, France, attributed to Hugues Sambin, 1561

File:Fontainebleau - Le château - PA00086975 - 077.jpg|Renaissance fireplace with atlantes in the ballroom of the Palace of Fontainebleau, France, unknown architect, unknown date

File:Saronno Santuario della Beata Vergine dei Miracoli Esterno Facciata Portale.jpg|Mannerist atlantes of the Santuario della Beata Vergine dei Miracoli, Saronno, Italy, designed by Pellegrino Tibaldi, 1596-1613

File:Hôtel de Ville (ancien) - Façade sur rue - Portail - Toulon - Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine - APMH00004290.jpg|Baroque atlantes of the Hôtel de Ville doorway, Toulon, France, by Pierre Puget, 1656

File:Titelblad Termes, Supports, et Ornemens, pour embellir les maisons et Jardins Termes des 4 Saisons de l'Année (titel op object) Termes, Supports, et Ornemens, pour embellir les maisons et Jardins (serietitel op object), RP-P-1964-1092.jpg|Baroque designs of caryatids (left) and atlantes (right), each symbolizing a season of the year, by Jean Le Pautre, {{circa}}1670–1680, etching on paper

File:Andrea brustolon, sedie con etiopi, 1700-15 ca. 09.jpg|Baroque atlantes of an armchair, by Andrea Brustolon, {{circa}}1700-1715, wood and upholstery, Ca' Rezzonico, Venice

File:Herkulen Gartensaal Schloss Schleissheim.jpg|Rococo atlantes in the Schleissheim Palace, Munich, Germany, probably by Joseph Effner, early 18th century

File:Celestiral atlantid - Japanisches Palais, Dresden - DSC08161.JPG|Chinoiserie atlas of the Japanisches Palais, Dresden, Germany, designed by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, Zacharias Longuelune or Jean de Bodt, 1715-1731

File:Dresden Zwinger Paul Heermann Nr A7 06395 SHoppe2022.jpg|Rococo atlas of the Zwinger, Dresden, Germany, designed by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, 1719{{cite book|last1=Hall|first1=William|title=Stone|date=2019|publisher=Phaidon|isbn=978-0-7148-7925-3|page=185|url=|language=en}}

File:Sans Souci 2.jpg|Rococo atlantes at Sanssouci, Potsdam, Germany, by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, 1748{{cite book|last1=Irving|first1=Mark|title=1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die|date=2019|publisher=Cassel Illustrated|isbn=978-1-78840-176-0|page=215|url=|language=en}}

File:München-Altstadt Cuvilliés-Theater 892.jpg|Rococo atlantes in the Cuvilliés Theatre, Munich, Germany, by François de Cuvilliés, 1751–1753{{cite book|last1=Irving|first1=Mark|title=1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die|date=2019|publisher=Cassel Illustrated|isbn=978-1-78840-176-0|page=217|url=|language=en}}

File:Château de Chantilly-Petit Cabinet-Commode-20120917..jpg|Louis XVI style altantes on a commode, by Jean-Henri Riesener, 1775, gilt brone, marble top, and various types of wood, Musée Condé, Chantilly, France{{cite book|last1=Droth|first1=Martina|last2=Sheriff|first2=Mary D.|last3=Scott|first3=Katie|last4=Hellman|first4=Mimi|last5=Bremer-David|first5=Charissa|title=Taking Shape - finding sculpture in the decorative arts|date=2009|publisher=The Henry Moore Foundation|isbn=978-1-905462-21-6|page=192|url=|language=en}}

File:Atlantes-Saint Petersburg-6.jpg|Neoclassical atlantes of the New Hermitage, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, designed by Leo von Klenze and sculpted by Alexandre Terebeniov, 1842—1851

File:Дворец Белосельских-Белозерских Атланты.jpg|Rococo Revival atlantes on the facade of the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, Saint Petersburg, designed by Andrei Stackenschneider, 1847-1848

File:Guillaume Bonnet, Termes de Jupiter et compagnon, horloge du fronton, Lyon, palais du Commerce. Photo, Jamie Mulherron.jpg|Baroque Revival atlantes of the Palais de la Bourse, Lyon, France, designed by René Dardel and sculpted by Jean-Marie Bonnassieux, 1854-1860

File:Joseph-Hugues Fabisch, Termes de Minerve et Mercure. 1863. Lyon, 38 rue Président Edouard-Herriot. (Photo) Jamie Mulherron.jpg|Neoclassical atlas of Mercury and a caryatid of Minerva of Rue Édouard-Herriot no. 39, Lyon, sculpted by Joseph-Hugues Fabisch, 1863

File:Place d'Estienne d'Orves, 2.jpg|Neoclassical atlantes of Place d'Estienne-d'Orves no. 2, Paris, sculptor Joseph Caillé and architect Ch. Forest, 1866

File:Atlantid, Wayne Co. Ct House, Wooster, OH, USA.jpg|Second Empire style Atlantid at the Wayne County Courthouse, Wooster, Ohio, United States. Unknown sculptor, architect Thomas Boyd, circa 1887-89.

File:Palatul domnitorului Alexandru Ioan Cuza (azi Muzeul „Unirii” - Complexul Național Muzeal Moldova) (2).jpg|Baroque Revival atlases on the Catargiu House, today the Union Museum, Iași, Romania, unknown architect, {{circa}}1880

File:Atlantid angels at the Cathedral of Saint Peter of Alcântara in Petropolis, Brazil.jpg|Gothic Revival angel atlantes on the Cathedral of Saint Peter of Alcantara, Petrópolis, Brazil, designed by Francisco Caminhoá, 1884–1925

File:Entrée monumentale 15 rue du Louvre.jpg|Beaux Arts atlantes at a monumental entrance in Paris, unknown architect and sculptor, {{circa}}1900

File:Siebensterngasse 4-6.jpg|Rococo Revival atlantes of Siebensterngasse no. 4-6, Vienna, Austria, unknown architect and sculptor, {{circa}}1900

File:Le Bibent - panoramio (1).jpg|Beaux Arts atlantes in the Café Bibent (Place du Capitole no. 5), Toulouse, France, 1900-1910{{cite web|url=https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/PA00094496|website=pop.culture.gouv.fr|title=Café Bibent|access-date=28 November 2023}}

File:Paris 75004 Rue de Rivoli 20160903 Atlantes.jpg|Beaux Arts atlantes of Rue de Rivoli no. 45, Paris, designed by A. Garriguenc, 1905

File:6, Kniazia Romana Street, Lviv-1.jpg|Gothic Revival atlantes on Kniazia Romana Street no. 6, Lviv, Ukraine, designed by Adolf Piller and Roman Volpel, 1913

File:Grave of the colonel Paul Străjescu Family in the Bellu Cemetery in Bucharest, Romania (01).jpg|Art Deco atlantes of the Grave of the Străjescu Family in the Bellu Cemetery, Bucharest, Romania, by George Cristinel, 1934{{cite book|last1=Criticos|first1=Mihaela|title=Art Deco sau Modernismul Bine Temperat - Art Deco or Well-Tempered Modernism|date=2009|publisher=SIMETRIA|isbn=978-973-1872-03-2|page=79|url=|language=Romanian, English}}

File:Galerie de Florence de Voldère à Paris 2.JPG|Postmodern atlantes of the Florence de Voldère art gallery (Avenue Matignon no. 34), Paris, Jean-Jacques Fernier, 1998{{cite web|url=https://www.pss-archi.eu/immeubles/FR-75056-49551.html|website=www.pss-archi.eu|title=34, avenue Matignon|access-date=19 November 2023}}

See also

References

{{Commons category|Atlantes}}

{{NIE Poster|Atlantes}}

{{Reflist}}

=Bibliography=

  • {{cite journal|last=King|first=Dorothy|title=Figured supports: Vitruvius' Caryatids and Atlantes|journal=Quaderni Ticinesi|volume=XXVII|year=1998|url=http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2008/05/vitruvius-caryatids-and-telamones.html}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  • {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Telamones|volume=26}}

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