representation of the human figure
TRANSCRIPT
Ancient Civilizations
Ancient Greece and Rome
A little more on the Greek civilization…
• Greek history can be divided into four periods:
- Geometric Period
- Archaic Period
- Classical Period
- Hellenistic Period.
• Each period is characterised by a change in artistic style.
• Live in scattered locations on the mainland as well as on the surrounding islands.
• Due to their location, many trade opportunities between various countries (specifically Egypt) developed.
• This cross-cultural influence can be seen in their art as the early sculptures of the Ancient Greeks resemble the statues carved of the pharaohs.
• They worshiped nature and gods and had a variety of Gods for different elements such as: the god of war, love, the sea etc.
• Images of these gods were immortalised in the form of sculptures.
and …
• Although the Greeks sculptures resembled the Egyptian images of their pharaohs, their were THREE important differences.
1. The Egyptian sculptures were always clothed as a sign of respect where as the Greek sculptures were always nude. (This was because they worshipped the human (male) body).
2. Although the images of the Korous and the Pharaoh are similar with regards to stance, position of head, treatment of detail/form and observation of structure they differ in that there are no stone webs between the arms and body and the legs. This is because the Greeks were not concerned about preserving the images for an afterlife and therefore they did not need to take those precautions.
3. Images of the Pharaohs were carved to honour the power of the Pharaoh as well as to provide a “vessel” for the Ka in the afterlife. Egyptian art was therefore based on their religion. The Greeks created images of their Gods to immortalise however their style of art was never dictated by their religion.
Archaic Period…
The statues of Kleobis and Biton, marble, ca. 580,
Kouros
Peplos Korec 510/500 BC
Zeus and Ganymede, C 470BC
Bronze Sculpture, thought to be either Poseidon or Zeus, c. 460 B.C,
Summary• Rigid stance/pose
• Arms firmly next to side of the body with no movement or sign of weight shift.
• Left leg slightly forward with no weight shift in the hips.
• All the necessary information is represented but sculpture very frontal.
• Stylised facial features.
• Inclusion of the ‘archaic smile”
• General understanding of muscular autonomy of the body. This can be seen in the general observation of the torso area.
• Hair is long and hangs down the back. This could be to stabilize the neck area and prevent breakage.
• Towards the end of the Archaic Period, the images “broke" away from the Block composition.
• Arms were extended from the body and there was a grater understanding of anatomy and form.
• Sculptors observed live models and created their image in the round. The result was more attention to detail and faces started to assume personalities.
Classical Sculpture…
The Marathon Youth, 4th century BC bronze statue and Copy of Polyclitus' Diadumenos,
Summary• Complete freedom and
movement from the block.
• More realistic observation of form and attention to detail.
• Experimentation with various compositional poses and compositions.
• Soft serene faces which are quite feminine. They also don’t seem to contain much expression.
• Hair is simplified into short curls on the head.
• images usually of Gods or important athletes.
Hellenistic art…
The Boxer
Gaul killing himself and his wife sculpted by Ludovisi.
Venus de Milo
Late Hellenistic bronze statue of a mounted jockey
Winged Victory of Samothrace (2nd or 1st century BC)
Laocoön and His Sons late 1st century BC
summary…
• Images of rich patrons/everyday people represented as gods.
• Sculptures became more complicated with regards to compositions as well as detail.
• Compositions no longer limited too one image. The more images the more “exaggerated” the piece.
• Outstanding attention to detail, veins etc. were included in the sculptures.
• Images were not only based on religion and their beliefs but was now created as a means of entertainment and decoration.
Greek Vase Painting Techniques
Geometric, Red Figure, Black Figure and
White ground Technique.
Function and Purpose
of Greek Vases/Pottery
• The Geometric Period in art was
dominated by Vase painting
techniques and originated
between 900-700BC
• There were four main
styles/techniques: Geometric, Red
Figure, Black Figure and White
Ground.
• Greek pottery was functional in
that each shape suited a specific
purpose, either to drink out or to
store grain, water, embalming oil.
• “Vases were made from terracotta
clay and then fired in a kiln to
harden.
• They were then decorated with
patterns and images of mythology
and everyday life.
• They became an important part of
Greek History as there were no
real reference to any paintings
from this time other than the vase
painting.
The Geometric Phase
Characteristics• Simplified geometric designs
• This period was dominated by vase
paintings and sculptures.
• These images were very stylised as they
were figures simplified into the basic
geometric shapes such as the triangle,
rectangle and square.
• Images of human forms were usually
used as part of a narrative which was
usually based on a religious/sporting
event.
• Geometric patterns in bands decorate the
lip (top) and base (bottom) of the vase.
• A funeral procession occupies the bulb
(centre) of the vase.
• These images are painted black on a red
terracotta background.
• Vase made from terracotta clay and fired
(baked) to create a hard form.
Black Figure Technique
Characteristics:• Images still simplified but slightly more detail is used in the understanding of
anatomy.
• This style was produced around the “Archaic” Phase.
• Base and lip of vase is occupied by geometric and organic patterns and the bulb
was decorated in stories of mythology or sporting events.
• This technique was similar to the “Geometric” phase as figures were painted in
black “slip” (liquid clay) onto a red terracotta surface.
• Additional detail was then carved into the solid black form to add more detail.
Red Figure Technique
Characteristics:
• The Red Figure Technique
was a little more developed
from the Black Figure as
more attention was paid to
detail.
• The technique is reversed in
that the negative space was
painted in black slip and the
positive space (the figures)
were left the natural colour of
the clay.
• This allowed for more detail
as the artists could paint on
the detail of the face etc. to
make it look more realistic.
• Other characteristics such as
subject matter and decoration
were the same as previous
techniques.
White Figure Technique
Function and
characteristics
• The White Ground Vase
Technique was a specialised
technique reserved mainly for
the Lekythos shaped vase.
• The Lekythos was used to
store embalming oils and
therefore the images painted
onto the surface were mainly
of the person whom the
embalming oils belonged to.
• They were usually buried with
the vessel.
• The images were detailed and
painted onto the surface
using a variety of colours.
These colours were not
hardened during a firing
process.
• The subject matter usually
consisted of decorative flora
and flora with
“quite/peaceful” scenes to
accompany the “owner” into
the next life.
THE PARTHENONGreek Architecture
The ColumnsDoric Order Ionic Order
LOCATION &
FUNCTION
Found on the top of the
Acropolis Hill In Athens
Main function was to house the
statue of Athena
Made from White Marble and
marble stucco.
Has 8 columns across the front
and back 17 down either side
hereby conforming to the perfect
proportion.
No mortar was used in the
construction but rather carefully
engineered columns and beams
which fitted together (post and
Lintel)
The Parthenon like most of their
temples was open to elements as
they were nature worshippers.
COLUMNS
The structure is rectangular
and has columns on all four
sides. This was know as
peripteral
The Parthenon consisted of
the Doric, Ionic and
Corinthian Orders as well as
some columns been
substituted with female
figures.
The columns were slightly
tapered to give the
appearance of height and
slenderness.
The columns were slightly
tilted inwards so as to allow
for eve weight distribution
They were placed on a
platform(stylobate) which
was convex to allow for
drainage.
DECORATION
The Parthenon was filled with
decoration in the form of
sculptures, relief panels and
pediment sculptures
Statue of Athena housed
within the temple where people
could make offerings to.
Relief Sculpture found on
the Frieze on the exterior of
the building an all four sides of
the temple and told a story of
the goddess the temple was
dedicated to.
Pediment Sculpture was
3d sculptures made to fit into
the pediment/roof of the
temples.
ANCIENT ROME
General info…• As with the Greeks, the Romans had easy access to the sea which was
important to their trade and colonization with other areas.
• Today it is known as Italy.
• There are many similarities between the
Ancient Greek civilization and the Ancient
Roman civilization e.g:
1. In Ancient Rome religion was very
important to the people. As part of their
daily routine they would honor their gods
and goddesses, sometimes with offerings or
sacrifices.
2. There were public temples to gods and goddesses all over the Roman Empire
and every home had a shrine or room dedicated to the gods.
3. In the home the Ancient Romans worshipped gods and goddesses who they
believed protected their home and family. Gods and goddesses of other
religions would also be worshipped.
4. The Romans, when they worshipped at a public temple would give gifts to the
gods and goddesses. This was sometimes the sacrifice of an animal.
5. The Ancient Romans believed (like the Ancient Greeks) that if the gods were
happy, then they would receive good fortune in return.
Similarities to the Greeks
6. The Roman admiration for Greek art
overlapped with the Hellenistic Period
and therefore many early Roman works
were direct copies of Greek Sculptures.
7. Their art consisted of free standing
sculptures, portraits of important people
and relief sculptures which decorated
their Temples.
The Roman Gods and Goddesses
• Romans had hundreds of different gods. Prayers were offered to relevant Gods and Goddesses - in matters of love the Romans would pray to Venus. Soldiers would pray to Mars the God of War and so on. There was a Roman God to suit all requirements.
• The total collection of Roman gods was called the PANTHEON
• A main group of twelve Roman Gods called the Dii Consentes were worshipped at the temples - Jupiter, Juno, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Minerva, Vesta, Ceres, Diana, Volcan, and Apollo
• Other important Roman Gods honoured at the temples included Janus, Saturnus, Flora, Pomona, Portunus, Fontanus, Bacchus, Cupid, Hercules, Pluto and Ulysses
The History of Roman Templeswas divided into TWO eras
The first era was of the Roman Republic, the people
of this era were known as the ancient Etruscans and
they mirrored the Greek traditions of building large
temples to honour their Gods.
Earlier architecture was therefore dominated by the
construction of buildings for Religious purposes.
The second era started in 27BC and is classed as the period of the Roman Empire.
Roman architecture during this period developed to include aquaducts, roads bridges, sewer systems and public baths.
Roman Architecture
Roman aquaducts provided water and was
connected to an indoor sewer system to
carry water away from the cities.
Roman baths were provided with warm water
supplied from hot springs. Men would gather
in masses to discuss important social
happenings.
The barrel vault used to create high domed
ceilings.
One of the most important contributions to architecture by the
Romans was the development and use of the ARCH, VAULT
and DOME. This meant that architects were no longer
restricted in height and space. The Greek system of the
columns were still used but this was purely decorative.
The Roman Temples• The Romans built temples to worship
their Gods and Goddesses. Roman temples featured some, or all, of the following:
• Roman Temples had a gabled roof
• A deep porch with free-standing columns
• A frontal staircase giving access to a high platform
• New materials were used in the construction of Roman Temples such as concrete with brick and stone facing and marble veneers
• Walls of Roman Temples were painted in fresco - the frieze often depicted Roman life
• Sculptures of Roman Gods and Goddesses were used as decoration in the form of free standing statues
• Many Roman Temples were commissioned by Roman Generals to thank the Gods for the generals' victories
• In Ancient Rome a fundamental basis of the religion was the belief that if the Gods were happy then they would receive good fortune. It was therefore important to worshipthe Roman Gods on a daily basis.
• Roman Temples were large, ornate and numerous
• Outside the Roman Temples traders sold small birds and animals which were offered to the Gods as sacrifices
• The Roman temples were located in important positions such as at one side of the forum or along a major road
• All aspects of architecture were proportional.
• Engravings of Roman Temples were featured on Roman coins
• Roman Temples were dedicated to specific Roman Gods and Goddesses
The pantheon
Characteristics• Pantheon dedicated to the gods.
• Front has a rectangular
colonnaded porch containing 16
columns made from red and black
Egyptian granite and base and
capital from white Greek marble.
• Main hall forms a Rotunda
(mathematical harmony)
• Inside 7 niches dedicated to the 7
celestial gods flanked by
columns.
• Centre of the dome is an
oculus(meaning eye), which is the
only source of light. The beam of
light that moves through the
interior in the day makes the
viewer aware of the cosmic
forces and passing of time.
Roman Art• Ancient Roman painting relies in
large part on the preservation of artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum, and particularly the Pompeian mural painting, which was preserved after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Nothing remains of the Greek paintings imported to Rome during the 4th and 5th centuries, or of the painting on wood done in Italy during that period. In sum, the range of samples is confined to only about 200 years out of the about 900 years of Roman history.
• Most of this wall painting was done using the secco (“dry”) method, but some fresco paintings also existed in Roman times.
• There is evidence from mosaics and a few inscriptions that some Roman paintings were adaptations or copies of earlier Greek works
• Roman painting provides a wide variety of themes: animals, still life, scenes from everyday life, portraits, and some mythological subjects.
• During the Hellenistic period, it evoked the pleasures of the countryside and represented scenes of shepherds, herds, rustic temples, rural mountainous landscapes and country houses. In the late empire, after 200AD, early Christian themes mixed with pagan imagery survive on catacomb walls.
• The main innovation of Roman painting compared to Greek art was the development of landscapes, in particular incorporating techniques of perspective, though true mathematical perspective developed 1,515 years later.
• Surface textures, shading, and coloration are well applied but scale and spatial depth was still not rendered accurately. Some landscapes were pure scenes of nature, particularly gardens with flowers and trees, while others were architectural vistas depicting urban buildings. Other landscapes show episodes from mythology
Sculpture• Traditional Roman
sculpture is divided into
five categories:
1.portraiture
2.historical relief
3.funerary reliefs
4.sarcophagi
5.copies of ancient Greek
works.
• Roman sculpture was
influenced by Greek
examples, in particular
their bronzes.
