NIKE OF SAMOTHRACE
Top 5 in Top 17 Best Sculptures of All Time
This is another well-known piece of ancient art that has been on exhibit in the Louvre since the late 1800s. It represents Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory, and is one of the few originals still in existence (instead of a Roman copy). There is a lot of debate about what the statue was commissioned to commemorate, as it might be tied to a number of famous conflicts.
Several years ago, the statue was meticulously repaired, and it now has a plaster wing to replace the original missing one. The statue's head, which has never been located, is also gone. The statue is praised by art historians for its ability to convey both motion and stillness, as well as brutality and elegance.
