GREEK GREEK ARTART

The Ideal in The Ideal in EverythingEverything

DatesDates Archaic Greece 900 – 510 BCArchaic Greece 900 – 510 BC Classical Period 510 – 404 BCClassical Period 510 – 404 BC Hellenistic Period 404 – 146 BCHellenistic Period 404 – 146 BC

About The GreeksAbout The Greeks The Ancient Greeks are known for three The Ancient Greeks are known for three

main items; their sculptures, their temples, main items; their sculptures, their temples, and their vase paintings.  The art work and their vase paintings.  The art work embodies much of what made the Greek embodies much of what made the Greek civilization great.  The Ancient Greeks were civilization great.  The Ancient Greeks were organized into independent city-states.  In organized into independent city-states.  In these states the ideas of courage, valor, these states the ideas of courage, valor, and independence where strongly held and independence where strongly held values.  These themes can be seen very values.  These themes can be seen very clearly in their human depictions.  clearly in their human depictions. 

The Greeks idealized humans, The Greeks idealized humans, showing the strong and youthful showing the strong and youthful depiction of men and women.  The depiction of men and women.  The topics shown in their vases reflect topics shown in their vases reflect the importance of strength, athletic the importance of strength, athletic competition,  and battles.   Their competition,  and battles.   Their temples reflected their religious temples reflected their religious beliefs in the gods.  beliefs in the gods. 

The "Agamemnon" MaskGold, from Tomb V at MycenaeSixteenth century BCNational Archeological Museum, Athens

Mythology/BeliefMythology/Belief

Greek mythology is the body of Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient stories belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods Greeks, concerning their gods and heroesand heroes, the nature of the world , the nature of the world and their own cult and ritual and their own cult and ritual practices.practices.

Their ways of life, traditions, art and Their ways of life, traditions, art and architecture is based on their strong architecture is based on their strong belief in their gods. belief in their gods.

Greek mythology consists, in part, of a Greek mythology consists, in part, of a large collection of narratives that explain large collection of narratives that explain the origins of the world and detail the the origins of the world and detail the lives and adventures of a wide variety of lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines, and gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines, and other mythological creatures.other mythological creatures.

Central Greek concept is the human Central Greek concept is the human figure was the principle motif of Greek figure was the principle motif of Greek art.art.

Greek ArtGreek Art

Their style progressed from a stiff Their style progressed from a stiff looking structured style and looking structured style and rendering (Archaic Period) to a rendering (Archaic Period) to a more free flowing action depiction. more free flowing action depiction.

(Hellenistic Period)(Hellenistic Period)Successive styles increase in Successive styles increase in

Ideal Human proportions, Ideal Human proportions, realistic features, movement.realistic features, movement.

Characteristic’s of Their Characteristic’s of Their PaintingPainting

Geometric StyleGeometric Style (c. 900-700 BC) (c. 900-700 BC) characterized by characterized by stylized motifsstylized motifs

Simple black figures. Simple black figures. Geometric ShapesGeometric Shapes

The purpose was The purpose was to tell a story rather to tell a story rather then perfect the then perfect the human form. human form.

Famous PotteryFamous Pottery Their figures improved Their figures improved

as time went on.as time went on. Vase with Ajax and Vase with Ajax and

Achilles Playing Achilles Playing Morra. 540 BCMorra. 540 BC

Vase painting told Vase painting told stories about gods stories about gods and heroes of Greek and heroes of Greek Myth.Myth.

Figures more life like.Figures more life like. Exekia’s , uses detail Exekia’s , uses detail

to make the scene as to make the scene as realistic as possiblerealistic as possible

Ajax and Ajax and AchillesAchilles

•Intricate design on Intricate design on garments , facial garments , facial features, hands, faces features, hands, faces carefully drawn.carefully drawn.•It shows great It shows great compositional skill, compositional skill, centre to the eye is the centre to the eye is the board game.board game.•Figures lean forward Figures lean forward and curve of their backs-and curve of their backs-repeat the curve of the repeat the curve of the vase.vase.

Red Figure

Black figure PotteryBlack figure Pottery

Black Figure (c. 600-480 BC) black coated surface that was scratched into, example: Ajax Commiting Suicide by Exekias, 525 B.C

SculptureSculptureThe Evolution of Greek The Evolution of Greek

SculptureSculpture

Archaic PeriodArchaic Period

The Archaic period was the earliest The Archaic period was the earliest period in Greek Sculpture which period in Greek Sculpture which started around 600 B.C. and lasted started around 600 B.C. and lasted until 480 B.C.   These works have a until 480 B.C.   These works have a stiff and ridged appearance similar to stiff and ridged appearance similar to that of the Egyptian sculpture.    that of the Egyptian sculpture.   

Kouros600 BCstatueNational Museum, Athens

Archaic PeriodArchaic PeriodFamous SculptureFamous Sculpture

Grave SculptureGrave SculptureSimilar to the Egyptians, Similar to the Egyptians, but not supported, and nude.but not supported, and nude.

KourosKouros Characteristic of the KourosCharacteristic of the Kouros The Kouros male represented a The Kouros male represented a

god or athlete.god or athlete. The only suggestion of The only suggestion of

movement is in the left foot.movement is in the left foot. Symmetrically balancedSymmetrically balanced

The Ideal ManThe Ideal ManCharacteristic of Characteristic of

SculptureSculpture

Beautiful, youngBeautiful, young

IntelligentIntelligent

Strong/physically fitStrong/physically fit

The Ideal WomanThe Ideal Woman

Demure (eyes looking down)Demure (eyes looking down)Beautiful (good hair, good Beautiful (good hair, good

clothes)clothes)Ready to serve, have babies, Ready to serve, have babies,

do as she is told. do as she is told. YoungYoung

Hera of Samos c. 570-560 b.c. 6 “ tall

Korai were clothed women, often goddesses Style –straight vertical lines

repeated, folds gently over the subtle curves of the figureOver six feet tall-impressive symbol of authority and dignity

HumanismHumanismHuman proportions were Human proportions were used in architecture, math used in architecture, math

calculationscalculations

Classical SculptureClassical Sculpture Characterisitcs showed joyous Characterisitcs showed joyous

freedom of movement and freedom of movement and expression, while celebrating expression, while celebrating mankind as an independent entity mankind as an independent entity

The Classical age could be seen as a The Classical age could be seen as a turning point in art.turning point in art.

Showed joyous freedom of movement Showed joyous freedom of movement and expression, while celebrating and expression, while celebrating mankind as an independent entity. mankind as an independent entity.

Discobolosc. 450 BCRoman marble copy after the bronze original by Myronheight 155 cm (61 in)Museo Nazionale, Rome

•Life size statue • Sculptor Myron •Skillfully captured an athlete in action.•Strength into a mighty throw-face completely calm•Throwing arm is frozen for a split second•Details shows Myron had thorough understanding of anatomy•The athlete's right leg bears ll his weight.

ContrappostoContrapposto

A famous sculptor by the name of A famous sculptor by the name of Polyclitus started creating Polyclitus started creating sculptures in a certain kind of sculptures in a certain kind of pose.pose.

A pose in which the weight of A pose in which the weight of the body is balanced on one leg the body is balanced on one leg while the other is free and relaxed.while the other is free and relaxed.

Polyclitus, Doryphoros ( spear bearer)c.440 B.C.Roman Copy of Greek OriginalThe left leg is bent and

the toes lightly touch the ground

Body turns slightly gives the figure a freer more lifelike look

Right hip and left shoulder are raised; head tips forward and turns right

Action is kept to a minimum, feeling of athletic strength

Procession of Horsemen, from the west frieze of the Parthenon.c. 440 B.C. 43” highBritish Museum, London, England

Moving figures bunch up in some places and spread out in others.

Strong sense of movement in the spirited prancing of the horses.

Movement is suggested by pattern of light and shadow in the carved drapery.

Hellenistic SculptureHellenistic Sculpture

Sculptures become more knowledgeable Sculptures become more knowledgeable about the human form and thus become about the human form and thus become more skillful and confident.more skillful and confident.

They created dramatic movement and They created dramatic movement and often violent images.often violent images.

The sculptors were particularly The sculptors were particularly interested in facial expressions and interested in facial expressions and emotions.emotions.

Because of this breakthrough. The Because of this breakthrough. The Sculpture lacks the symmetrical balance Sculpture lacks the symmetrical balance and harmony of the archaic and classical and harmony of the archaic and classical period.period.

Hellenistic SculptureHellenistic Sculpture

There also came more detail and There also came more detail and fully clothed figures carved to fully clothed figures carved to show deep folds of the draperyshow deep folds of the drapery

the Hellenistic period, started a the Hellenistic period, started a little before 300 B.C. little before 300 B.C. 

AthenaMarble, h. 173 cm (5 1/2 ft)First-century copy after a fifth-century BC original by MyronFound in the Gardens of Lucullus, RomeLiebighaus Museum, Frankfurt

Hagesandros, Athenodoros and Polydoros of Rhodes

Laocoon and his sonsc. 175-150 BCMarble, height 242 cm (95 1/2 in)Museo Pio Clementino, Vatican

The Dying Gaul

The Dying Gaul

Head of a Blond YouthMarbleAround 485 BCAcropolis Museum, Athens

Venus de MiloParian marble, h 2.02 m (6 1/2 ft)Found at Milo130-120 BCMusee du Louvre, Paris

Nike, or Winged Victory of Winged Victory (Nike) of SamothraceMarble, h. 3.28 m (11 ft)Found on the island of RhodesAround 190 BCMusee du Louvre, Paris

ArchitecturArchitectureeProgression of ArchitectureProgression of Architecture

PurposePurpose Built in honor of Gods and Built in honor of Gods and

Goddesses.Goddesses. Rituals and sacrifices took place Rituals and sacrifices took place

on the steps of many of the on the steps of many of the temples to pay tribute to the temples to pay tribute to the God or Goddess the temple was God or Goddess the temple was built for.built for.

No ordinary people were allowed on No ordinary people were allowed on the inside since the building was held the inside since the building was held so sacred.so sacred.

Therefore the temples were more Therefore the temples were more decorative on the outside rather than decorative on the outside rather than the inside.the inside.

The progression of architecture The progression of architecture can easily be determined by the can easily be determined by the columns.columns.

Doric Ionic

Corinthian

The Parthenon, Acropolis Athens Greece, c. 447 B.C.

The Golden SectionThe Golden Section

Scholars believe that Greek Architects Scholars believe that Greek Architects use the concept known as the golden use the concept known as the golden Section to design and construct Section to design and construct buildings.buildings.

The Golden section is a mathematical The Golden section is a mathematical process in which shapes grow larger process in which shapes grow larger according to a fiexed ratio as they according to a fiexed ratio as they rotate around a cetral axis. rotate around a cetral axis.

This helps determine the proportions of This helps determine the proportions of a building elements such as columns.a building elements such as columns.

•The Parthenon. It is the most important and characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilization and still remains its international symbol.

• It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of Athens. It was built between 447 and 438 B.C. and its sculptural decoration was completed in 432 B.C.

•Post and lintle construction, Doric Order for columns

•The Parthenon is carefully planned to be balanced, harmonious and beautiful.

•The construction of the monument was initiated by Perikles, the supervisor of the whole work was Pheidias, the famous Athenian sculptor, while Iktinos and Kallikrates were the architects of the building. •The temple is built in the Doric order and almost exclusively of Pentelic marble. It is peripteral, with eight columns on each of the narrow sides and seventeen columns on each of the long ones. The central part of the temple, called the cella, sheltered the famous chryselephantine cult statue of Athena, made by Pheidias.

The Turks used the Parthenon as a powder magazine when the Venetians, under Admiral Morosini, sieged the Acropolis in 1687.

One of the Venetian bombs fell on the Parthenon and caused a tremendous explosion that destroyed a great part of the monument which had been preserved in a good condition until then.

The disaster was completed in the beginning of the 19th century, when the British ambassador in Constantinople, Lord Elgin, stole the greatest part of the sculptural decoration of the monument (frieze, metopes, pediments), transferred them to England and sold them to the British Museum, where they are still exhibited, being one of the most significant collections of the museum.

The Temple of Athena Nike

was constructed in ca. 420 B.C. by the architect Kallikrates. It is built in the Ionic order, and it is amphiprostyle with a row of four columns in front of each of its narrow sides. The relief frieze on the upper section of the walls depicts the conference of gods on the east side, and scenes from battles on the other three. A marble parapet decorated with the relief representation of Nikae (Victories), protected the edge of the Bastion on which the temple was erected.