GREEK ART First Olympics 776 CE Independent City-states (polis) Demos = people Kratos = power Plato, Socrates, Aristotle Art as an imitation of nature – only a shadow of what is true Greek artists were the first to sign their work Proportions are related to actual human – not god-like

GREEK ART Sculpture: Orientalizing, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic Pottery: Proto-geometric, Geometric, Orientalizing, Archaic: Black figure, Classical: Red figure, White Architecture: Archaic, Early Classical, Late Classical (Corinthian) Remember to look for stylistic details that determine what era the artwork belongs to. ie: movement, emotion, color, style of capital, level of naturalism, basic shape…..

Terrace of Lions: marble, Island of Delos Orientalizing Style: Reminiscent of Cycladic idols in their simplicity – monumental form and stylization are Early Greek

ARCHAIC SCULPTURE: Conventions similar to Egyptian, “Archaic Smile”, lack of detail and naturalism – becoming increasingly naturalistic Kouros: Male Kore: Female

Kritios Boy, 480 BCE Archaic smile is gone Significant naturalism Stylized hair stationary First appearance of Contrapposto

Early Classical Sculpture Zeus/Poseidon, Bronze 450 bce Active, more naturalistic, but stance is still awkward (wimpy) and hair is still stylized and cap-like as if it doesn’t grow from his head

Early Classical Sculpture Discus Thrower, Myron, bce (Roman copy of a bronze) Incredible naturalism, hair is still stylized and cap-like – face and head not as animated or live feeling as parts like the hands and arms that have veins popping with effort No facial expression or emotion

Warrior from Riace, c. 450 bce bronze, w/inlay Incredible naturalism, strong contrapposto hair is still stylized and cap-like – No facial expression or emotion Seems head and body are don’t belong together Early Classical to Classical Sculpture

Spear Bearer, Polykleitos, c. 440 bce, marble copy of bronze Strong contrapposto, amazing detail in knee caps, etchair is still stylized and cap-like – blank stare Early Classical to Classical Sculpture Extra piece between wrist and hip is a support to ensure the arm does not break off (addition in marble – not present in bronze original)

Wounded Amazon, Polykleitos, c. 430 bce copy of bronze, strong contrapposto, clothing follows curves of the body, partial nudity hair is still stylized No facial expression or emotion even though wounded Classical Sculpture

Aphrodite at Knidos, Praxiteles, c. 350 bce marble Gentle s-curve of contrapposto, Full nude figure Hair becomes more natural Minimal expression Hand position denotes modesty Hellenistic Sculpture

Demosthenes, Polyeuktos, c. 280 bce marble copy Clothed male Hair, beard, and face becomes realistic – showing flaws:age and physical condition not perfect EXPRESSION! Wrinkled forehead, Hellenistic Sculpture

Winged Nike (Winged Victory), c.190 bce marble Dramatic, thrust and twisting movement, sense of force and wind Drapery is fully involved with the action Assume hair would be as wind- swept as fabric and feathers Hellenistic Sculpture

Boxer c. 2 bce bronze Dramatic expression, sense of defeat Broken nose, swollen ears, obvious injuries Hellenistic Sculpture

Laocoon and his Sons c. 1 bce bronze Dramatic expression, sense of severe pain and anguish diagonal movement individualized features Sprouting hair

Compare & Contrast List the name and era for each of these sculptures. Compare/contrast the drapery, level of naturalism, conventions related to the facial features Stance or movement

Evolving Sculpture What seems ARCHAIC about this sculpture? How can you tell this is High Classical? List the Hellenistic details

Why are each of these important?

PROTO-GEOMETRIC: Simple, bold, symmetrical, open space

GEOMETRIC: Registers, stylized people, all surface space used, maze patterns

Orientalizing: light ground, mythological story, stylized people, geometric pattern becomes border, almost always has handles with openwork.

ARCHAIC STYLE: Registers – but usually one large primary register, more naturalism in figures, not busy – open, unused space. BLACK FIGURE POTTERY: Figures are painted in black, then the details are scratched out. ARCHAIC POTTERY

Red Figure pottery: Figures are the natural color of the pottery with background being black. Increasing naturalism in figures/animals ARCHAIC POTTERY

CLASSICAL POTTERY White-Ground Pottery: A wash of white clay formed the background. Figures were then applied in black, and additional colors were sometimes added after the firing.

For Storing Liquids 3-handled for storing water For Wine For mixing liquids water and wine For Drinking For Storing oil REQUIRED SHAPES – Know these ones!

Name the era and style (figure type) of each. Name the shape.

These are three transitional pieces – What two eras do each piece fall in between? WHY? ACB

Architecture Style DATES Archaic = bce Early Classical = bce 4 bce = Late Classical (Corinthian Order)

The Temple of Apollo: Located at Corinth. It was constructed around 550 bce. It was early Doric, and the shafts of the columns rise directly from the top step and have no base. The capitals are reminiscent of Minoan capitals.

The Temple of Zeus: It is located at Olympia in the Peloponnese, Greece. It was finished around 457 bce. It shows development of Doric architecture in the transitional Early Classical Period.

The Parthenon: Located in the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. It was completed in 432 bce as a temple to Athena. It has a front and back porch along with a peristyle supported by the three steps of the Doric order.

Aesthetic Improvements: ~ long horizontals are bowed out ~ All columns tilt inward very slightly ~ Columns are spaced closer together at the corners to create a frame-like quality

Parthenon Frieze and Pediment Details This reconstruction shows the paint colors and full pediment and Doric frieze details.

Parthenon Frieze and Pediment Details An Ionic Frieze over inner Doric colonnade

The Temple of Athena Nike: It is located in the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. It was built between bce. It has a front porch with four Ionic columns and three steps at the front and back.

Caryatids on pedestals Egg and Dart Dart and Leaf molding Syphian Treasury, Santuary of Apollo, Delphi

Caryatids on a balustrade Dental molding Erectheum, Acropolis, Athens