The Statues of Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Mapplethorpe is best known for the controversy he garnered with his sexually explicit photos, but his later work of the 1980s reveals the reverence he held for classical aesthetics. The forms of interest are muscular, reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman statuary. This fascination is especially prevalent in his photos of Thomas, Lisa Lyon, and Derrick Cross. While his photos of people seem to resemble statues, Mapplethorpe is also able to bring actual statues to life in the way the photos are framed. Mapplethorpe\u27s clear interest in Greek and Roman art affected the compositions and subject matter of his photos