05/02/2017
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Greek Art
Sculpture and PaintingSt. Lawrence, 2/5/2017
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Sunday, February 5, 2017Course Outline
A brief overview of Ancient Greece
Minoan art
Mycenaean art
Greek painting
Greek sculpture
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Sculpture and Painting
05/02/2017
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Key Notions
-Black figure/red figure-Contrapposto-Ex-voto-Foreshortening-Megaron-Tholos
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Prehistoric Art, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Timeline
20
00
-14
00
BC
E –
Min
oa
n C
ult
ure
16
00
-12
00
BC
E –
My
cen
aea
n C
ult
ure
11
00
-70
0 B
CE
–G
eo
me
tric
Pe
rio
d
c. 7
76
BC
E –
Lis
t o
f O
lym
pic
win
ner
s
70
0-5
00
BC
E –
Arc
ha
ic P
eri
od
54
0-5
30
BC
E –
Su
icid
e o
f A
jax
48
0-3
38
BC
E –
Cla
ssic
al
Pe
rio
d
c. 4
70
-39
9 B
CE
–S
ocr
ates
40
9-4
06
BC
E –
Nik
e a
dju
stin
g s
an
da
l
33
8-3
1 B
CE
–H
ell
en
isti
c P
eri
od
32
3 B
CE
–D
eath
of
Ale
xa
nd
er t
he
Gre
at
13
0-1
20
BC
E –
Mel
os
Ap
hro
dit
e
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Greece and Region
05/02/2017
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Minoan(2000-1400 BCE)
Palace
Mural paintings
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Plan of Knossos
Source: 6 Minoan Mycenaean
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Reconstruction of Knossos, and Ruins
Source: 8 Minoan Mycenaean
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Bull Games, Knossos, c. 1500 BCE, Fresco, 81,3 cm high, Archaeological Museum, Herakleion
Source: 2 Minoan Mycenaean
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
The Legend of the Minotaur
Pasiphae with the Minotaur. Image from a drinking cup, c. 340–320 BCE
Michael Ayrton, Minotaur, 1969, Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Theseus Killing the MinotaurAthenian, c. 550 BCE
Source: 10 Minoan Mycenaean
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Dolphins, Queen’s quarters, Knossus, c. 1450 BCE, Fresco, Ancient Art and Architecture Collection, Middlesex
Source: 2 Minoan Mycenaean
05/02/2017
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Hall of the Double AxesPalace of Minos, Knossos, Crete, c. 1500 BCE
Source: 2 Minoan Mycenaean
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Octopus FlaskPalaikastro, c. 1500 BCE, 25,4 cm h, Archaeological Museum, Herakleion
Source: 3 Minoan Mycenaean
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Bull’s-head RhytonKnossos, c. 1550-1450 BCE, Shell, rock crystal, and red jasper (gilt-wood horns are restorations), 30.5 cm h, Archaeological Museum, Herakleion
Source: 3 Minoan Mycenaean
05/02/2017
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Earth-Goddesswith SnakesKnossos, c. 1600 BCE, Faïence (glazed clay), 29,2 cm h, Archaeological Museum, Herakleion
See another Minoan (?!) statuette here.
Source: 2 Minoan Mycenaean
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Mycenaean(1600-1200 BCE)
Palace and Megaron
Cyclopean ramparts
Funerary art
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Plan of Tiryns; Center of MycenaenPalace, Megaron
Source: 6 & 7 Minoan Mycenaean
05/02/2017
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Lion GateMycenae, c. 1300 BCE, Limestone, Relief, 289,6 cm high
Source: 11 & 2 Minoan Mycenaean
Cyclops from Sinbad movie
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae, c. 1300, 14,48 m diameter, 13,26 m high
Source: 6 Minoan Mycenaean
Tholos
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Funerary Mask of Agamemnon, c. 1500 BCE, Gold, 30 cm high , National Archaeological Museum, Athens
Source: 7
Minoan Mycenaean
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Vaphio Cups, Mycenae, c. 1500 BCE, Gold with repoussédecoration, 8,9 cm high, National Museum, Athens
Source: 5 Minoan Mycenaean
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Dagger blade with decoration of a lion hunt, Mycenae, c 1550 BCE, National Museum, Athens
Source: 5 Minoan Mycenaean
05/02/2017
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Greek Painting
Or, painting pottery
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Amphora, Athens, c. 750 BCE, 150 cm high, National Museum, Athens
Geometric ceramic
-Funerary material (ex-votos)-Imposing forms, better compositions, funerary rituals
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Kidnapping scene, Geometric Bowl, Athens, c. 730-720 BCE, British Museum, London
Geometric ceramic
-Funerary material (ex-votos)-Imposing forms, better compositions, funerary rituals-Human form (mythology)
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
05/02/2017
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Exekias, Suicide of Ajax, Amphore, 54 cm high, c. 540-530 BCE, Musée du château, Boulogne-sur-mer
Ceramic
Athens-Black figure ceramic
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Andokides Painter, Farming Scene, Bilingual Amphora, Detail
Ceramic
Athens-Black figure ceramic-Passage from black to red figure ceramic (bilingual vase)
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Cyclops Painter, Odysseus and companions, Vase, c. 420-410, 47 cm high, British Museum, London
Ceramic
-Red figure ceramic-Better use of all available space-More motion-Representation in space
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
Foreshortening
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Greek Sculpture
Or the pursuit of realism
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Centaur, Lefkandi, c. 900 BCE, 36 cm high, Archaeological Museum, Chalcis
Geometric ceramic
-Funerary material (ex-votos)-Portable
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Kouros, c. 590-580, 184 cm high, Metropolitain, New York
SculptureIn the round
Kouros-Interpretation of male body ; divinity or mortal hero-Canon: man standing, immobile, naked, arms close to the sides, fists against the thighs; frontal; perfect symmetry left/right, except leg that is slightly advanced
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Kore, Crete, c. 650-625, 75 cm high, Louvre, Paris
SculptureIn the round
Kore-Young woman-Canon: standing; legs together, dressed, detailed clothing, headdress painted; position of the hands varies (against breast, presenting an offering, holding clothing)
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Apollo, Temple of Zeus, West Pediment, Olympia, c. 460 BCE, 315 cm, Archaeological Museum, Olympia
Architectural sculpture
Severe style-Calm expression-Lacking in emotion-Severity in posture (even if there is movement)
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Nike ajusting sandal, Acropolis, c, 409-406 BCE, 106 cm high, Acropolis Museum, Athens
Relief Sculpture
Greek classicism-Nudity and drapery, flexible feeling, wet to see the body -Musculature is mastered (and seen)-Less ‘religious’ (public figures, ordinary life and humanized divinities)-Balanced presentation
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Warrior, Riace, c. 450 BCE, National Museum, Reggio di Calabria
Sculpture ‘in the round’
Bronze-Movement is mastered (in contrapposto - hips one way, shoulders another)-Mastery of space-Loss of frontal style-Loss of symmetry
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Melos Aphrodite, c. 130-120, 202 cm high, Louvre, Paris
Sculpture
Movement in classical style-Sinuosity in movement -Body and drapery are delicately rendered
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Chrysippus, Old Man, Louvre, Paris
Sculpture
More mortals-Canon: social realism and naturalism-Children-Genre style-Portraits-Baroque realism-Old age
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Lysippus (copy), Farnese Hercules, Marble, 317 cm, Rome, National Archaeological Museum, Naples
Sculpture
More mortals-Canon: social realism and naturalism-Children-Genre style-Portraits-Baroque realism-Old age-Colossal
Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
-Greek painting evolved from frescoes to ceramic decorations, and then again from black-figures to red-figures; the themes were mainly mythological
-Greek sculpture was principally based on the human body, and became more and more realist as artists mastered their trade; once the door was open to the possibility of having non divine subjects, themes became as varied as the inspiration of the artists
Conclusion
Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Suggested readings
-Gombrich, The Story of Art, p. 63-91-Cleaver, Art, an Introduction, p. 84-113-Fiero, The Humanistic Tradition, vol. 1. p. 67-128-Kleiner, Gardner’s Art through the Ages, p. 105-169
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Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 2017-02-05, Beaudoin
Bibliography and Sources
1. Brommer, Discovering Art History2. Fiero, The Humanistic Tradition, vol. 1 3. Kleiner, Gardner’s Art through the Ages4. Gombrich, The Story of Art5. Rogers, Art, a World History6. Cleaver, Art, an Introduction7. University Laval Course Notes8. www.ile-de-crete.com9. www.youtube.com10. www.wikipedia.com11. http://dcairns.wordpress.com