GREEK AND ROMAN ART GREEK ART

Greek art. The birthplace and the zenith of Western Art Proportion, balance, unity- KEY IDEALS Harmony and idealized beauty Supremacy of intellect and power of mind Encouraged art of all types, very cultural minded Signed works

GREEK ART

Major periods in Greek Art Archaic Period BC Classic Period BC Hellenistic Period BC

GREEK ART Key concepts of proportion, balance and unity driving force Achievements in architecture, mathematics, science, philosophy, poetry and more- everything had ideal form Human body beautiful, and perfectly proportioned (influence profound on many later artists- da Vinci) Pre-Greek world- nudity sometimes sign of slavery, Greeks- epitome of perfection

GREEK ART Kore vs Kouros Archaic smile, stylized, represented Apollo or athlete Left foot slightly forward (like Egypt) stiff position Statue of a Youth, Kouros 600 BC Marble

GREEK ART Stylization shifted to more natural and realistic reps Sculpt what observed Kore painted to appear more natural (most painted, colored encaustic) Folds of cloth Semi-apparent Archaic smile Peplos Kore 530 BC Marble 4 ft

GREEK ART 480 BC- Archaic ends Marked change in sculpture Period of peace- arts flourished Contrapposto Movement shown for first time Concept of weight shift Relaxed body Found amid rubble at Acropolis Kritios Boy Kritios 480 BC Marble

GREEK ART Bronze used, not a lot remains Destroyed, lost or melted down for later ammo Folds, muscles and facial exp natural No more archaic, calm and controlled look Eyes- glass paste, lips/ lashes inlaid copper Later work missing Charioteer of Delphi 470 BC Bronze 71”

GREEK ART Safe and prosperous- arts admired in Athens Decorated Parthenon with sculptures East/ west ends filled, friezes and pediments decorated Frieze- sculpted band around the top Pediment- flat triangular area

GREEK ART Sculptures designed to fit into pediment Natural folds, visual movement, birth of Athena Dampened drapery to get folds just right Three Goddesses 435 BC Marble Over life-size East Pediment, Parthenon British Museum

GREEK ART Frieze around inner wall Youth tribute to Athena Depth shown, four abreast Anatomy, movement, rhythm and space Closer- rounder Mounted Procession 432 BC North Frieze Parthenon British Museum

GREEK ART The Getty Bronze, or Statue of a Victorious Athlete by Greek artist Lysippus was found in the Mediterranean Same s curve Lysippus became official sculptor of Alexander the Great and his court Getty Bronze Lysippus 330 BC Bronze, life size

GREEK ART Hellenistic sculpture moved toward even greater freedom of movement Drapery became even more expressive Figures became even more dynamic Laocoon and Sons BC Marble Influenced Michelangelo Pliny the Elder

GREEK ART One of greatest Hellenistic sculptures Symbol of winged victory Use of negative space Nike of Samothrace 190 BC Marble 8 ft

GREEK ART Greek architecture- started heavy in Archaic period, moved to lighter, airier feel in Classic period Focused around temples Harmony and proportion in buildings Organic units, organized 3 main orders: DORIC, IONIC and CORINTHIAN

GREEK ART Entablature Column Pediment Frieze Architrave Capital Shaft base

GREEK ART Archaic Doric temples- powerful structures Heavy in appearance Bulge and taper Capitals huge The Basilica (Temple of Hera) 550 BC

GREEK ART Classic Period- Doric maturity BC Parthenon built Central building of Athenian Acropolis Entasis- curved tapering More balance Many areas painted originally Cella- Athena Parthenon Iktinos and Kallikrates BC Acroplois, Athens

GREEK ART Famous Ionic temple- Athena Nike Lighter and more delicate Set on base Acropolis Temple of Athena Nike 425 BC

GREEK ART Caryatids- female figures instead of columns Used instead of column to support architrave Porch of the Maidens The Erechtheum BC The Acropolis

GREEK ART No mortar or cement Stones cut so exacting the fit together precisely Metal rods as dowels Corinthian columns used in temple for Zeus Began in 174 BC and finished under Hadrian (Roman) Temple of the Olympian Zeus Cossutius 174 BC -2 nd Century Ad Athens

GREEK ART Plays are still performed at theaters built 2000 years ago… Tiered stone walkways Excellent acoustics Theater at Epidaurus 350 BC Greece

GREEK ART Skilled painters- but known from literary sources Trompe l’oeil effect so great, birds pecked murals of painted fruit! Vase painting- black on red, red on blackred on black Told stories of gods and heroes of Greek myths Told contemporary subjects of warfare and drinking parties too Amphoras and hydrias were made Amphora- large storage jar with 2 handles Hydria- large jug for carrying water

GREEK ART Red Figured Hydria Meidias 410 BC 20” British Museum

GREEK ART Black Figured Amphora Exekias 530 BC 24” Vatican Museum

GREEK ART Youth Singing and Playing the Kithara 490 BC Red figured style, or red on black

GREEK ART Dionysus in a Sailboat Exekias Archaic Period May be one of first examples where object not stylized

GREEKGREEK ART 1.What were the three key Greek ideals? 2.What were the three periods of Greek Art? 3.What is the difference between a Kore and a Kouros figure? 4.What does “archaic smile” mean? 5.What is contrapposto? 6.What is the significance in the expression of the Charioteer of Delphi? 7.What is a frieze? 8.What is a pediment? 9.What kind of curve did the figures of the Classic Period have? 10.How did the Nike of Samothrace sculpture use space? 11.Describe each column order: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian 12.What are caryatids? 13.What were the two types of vase painting? 14.What is the difference between a hydria and an amphora?