They are posed in the middle of an action. Sculpted from stone, the hard surfaces and eternal pose are given an illusion of human-ness: Motion is implied by the technique of Contrapposto.The body is positioned in a relaxed pose with weight on one foot and the other used as support. The upper body may be turned, in preparation for the coming motion. This assymetrical pose of a symmetrical body combines contrapposto with the Greek Ideal of perfection in the human form.
"True motion only happens in the physical world. Our ability to recognize motion in a series of still pictures is a result of a combination of the phenomena known as "Persistance of Vision," and " The Phi Effect." Persistance of vision is a subsconscious process of connecting a series of stills by applying ones knowledge of motion in the real world.
The Phi Effect concerns how the eye briefly retains the afterimage of the last frame on the next one that is visible, linking them together as continuous motion." These quotes are from the website below.
Research Link: What is Contrapposto?
Contrapposto is used in animation, as are sfumato, hue, texture, line, shape, direction, scale, dimension.
Sfumato can also suggest motion. Research Link: What is Sfumato?
This website shows how sfumato is used to imply motion: Sfumato & motion.
Both Contrapposto and Sfumato were important techniques for sculpture (Contrapposto) and painting (Sfumato) during the Renaissance.
P. 7: Classical Greek Statues