Lysippos of Sikyon (Socrates)

Socrates
No other work of Lysippos is a better example to reveal his "cryptic" words, "Other artists make men as they are, I make them as they appear", than this one.
This bust is a copy of the original bronze made by Lysippos, around 370 BC.
The ugly in characteristics face of Socrates, in the hands of Lysippos, becomes beautiful and humane, projecting fully his personality.
For him, it is of the outmost importance to give in his works the expression of the face, as it is projected from his soul. We can see in the luminous and calm face of Socrates, his strong character, his goodness and his intelligence.

This is how Socrates appeared in the eyes of his friends and pupils and this is how they described him to Lysippos or had him sketched.
The "cryptic" words are very clear. "Other artists make men as they are", meaning that others give only an exact detailed description in their works.
"I make them as they appear", meaning that for him, above anything else, the character and the personality must be projected. We can see all these in a lesser degree in the busts of Alexander or his Boxer.

National Museum of Naples.
Farnese collection.