Greek and Roman Art Outline

Aegean Art –Minoan On the island of Crete. On the island of Crete. Richest of the Aegean civilizations – created a luxurious, relaxed way of life. Richest of the Aegean civilizations – created a luxurious, relaxed way of life. Palace of Minos at Knossos Palace of Minos at Knossos –Many rooms, running water, a sewage system, theater. –Decorated with frescos – plaster wall paintings. –Bull Dance

Aegean Art Comfort and decoration were important. Comfort and decoration were important. Sculpture was small Sculpture was small –Snake Goddess – carved from ivory and decorated with gold bands.

Aegean Art –Mycenaean Fortress instead of Palace Fortress instead of Palace Blocks were so large they were thought to be built by Cyclopes. Blocks were so large they were thought to be built by Cyclopes. Lion Gate Lion Gate –Main Gate at Mycenae –Lintel Stone – horizontal stone above gate.

Aegean Art Funeral Mask Funeral Mask –Thin sheet of beaten gold. –Used to cover the face of the dead. Vaphio Cup Vaphio Cup –Formed by pushing out from the inside. –Made from gold –Both civilizations ended abruptly and were considered mythological for a long time.

Greek Art The human being was placed at the center of Greek culture. The human being was placed at the center of Greek culture. Greeks encouraged all forms of art Greeks encouraged all forms of art Proportion, balance, and unity were key ideals. Proportion, balance, and unity were key ideals. The human body was considered beautiful and perfectly proportioned. The human body was considered beautiful and perfectly proportioned. Art work is lost due to war, invasion and neglect. Art work is lost due to war, invasion and neglect. Greeks influenced mathematics, government, philosophy and medicine. Greeks influenced mathematics, government, philosophy and medicine. Major periods of Art History. Major periods of Art History. – BC – Archaic – BC – Classical –Hellenistic.

Greek Sculpture Archaic Period Archaic Period –Kouros – young man, ideal athlete –Kore – woman –Figures are stylized and ideal Kritios Boy – 480 BC Kritios Boy – 480 BC –Free standing –Uses Contraposto – weight on one leg, S-curve of the body

Greek Sculpture Art begins to flourish during the Classic Period. Art begins to flourish during the Classic Period. Charioteer of Delphi – 470 BC Charioteer of Delphi – 470 BC –Cast in bronze –Cloth folds, muscles, and facial features are natural. –Archaic smile is replaced by calm, dignified look.

Greek Sculpture Age of Pericles Age of Pericles –Decoration of Parthenon is the most ambitious project of the Greeks. All sculptures are created during 12 years under the direction of Phidias. All sculptures are created during 12 years under the direction of Phidias. Many of the works were destroyed by war. Many of the works were destroyed by war. Lord Elgin rescued what was left and brought them to England in Lord Elgin rescued what was left and brought them to England in –Three Goddesses Natural folds of fabric cling to the body. Natural folds of fabric cling to the body. Located in pediment – flat triangle area above columns. Located in pediment – flat triangle area above columns.

Greek Sculpture Hellenistic Period Hellenistic Period –Became more concerned with action and emotion. –Dying Gaul – BC Roman copy in marble Roman copy in marble Life-Size Life-Size Shows ethnic features Shows ethnic features –Nike of Samothrace One of the greatest Hellenistic sculptures One of the greatest Hellenistic sculptures Symbol of Winged Victory. Symbol of Winged Victory.

Greek Architecture Sought harmony and proportion in buildings. Sought harmony and proportion in buildings. Public was not allowed in temples, so exteriors were elaborate. Public was not allowed in temples, so exteriors were elaborate. Systems of construction are called “the orders” Systems of construction are called “the orders” –Doric – simple, slightly curved square. –Ionic – spiral shaped, delicate. –Corinthian – most elaborate. All of the temples were constructed without mortar or cement. All of the temples were constructed without mortar or cement. Stones were cut to fit together Stones were cut to fit together

Greek Architecture Parthenon Parthenon –Doric style –Architects – Iktinus and Kallikrates. Built it from BC –Columns lean slightly inward and corner columns are closer together to give a feeling of harmony, balance and unity. –Athena was placed in a cella – a room where the statue of the God was kept.

Greek Architecture Temple of Athena Nike Temple of Athena Nike – BC –Ionic style –Well preserved Temple of Olympian Zeus Temple of Olympian Zeus –Corinthian style –Only a small portion remains today.

Greek Paintings Large and colorful paintings decorated their homes but not even one exists today. Large and colorful paintings decorated their homes but not even one exists today. Paintings today exist only on vases. Paintings today exist only on vases. Hydria – large water jug. Hydria – large water jug. Artists signed pottery. Artists signed pottery. Mosaics Mosaics –Battle of Issus – a Roman copy of a Greek painting. –Only used four colors – red, yellow, white and black.

Roman Art Expanded control in every direction. Expanded control in every direction. Spread their laws, religion, customs, ability to organize, and the Latin language. Spread their laws, religion, customs, ability to organize, and the Latin language. Admired Greek sculpture. Admired Greek sculpture. Greatest contribution to art was in architecture. Greatest contribution to art was in architecture. Excelled in construction, planning and engineering. Excelled in construction, planning and engineering.

Roman Architecture The Colosseum The Colosseum –Three emperors were involved in the construction: Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. –Originally designed for the staging of lavish spectacles, most particularly for battles between animals and gladiators. –50,000 Romans could fit inside. –The outer wall is sixteen stories high.

Roman Architecture The Colosseum The Colosseum –The arch is a curved architectural element used to span an opening. –The vault is an arched roof or covering made of brick, stone or concrete. –A velarium, or awning, was used to protect the spectators from sun or rain. –The grandest of all Roman structures.

Roman Architecture The Pantheon The Pantheon –Built to honor all the gods. –The walls of the building are over 20 feet thick and massive enough to support a tremendous dome. –The only source of light is from an oculus – a single round, eye-like opening at the top.

Roman Architecture Aqueducts Aqueducts –Rome had 11. –Supplied 350 million gallons of water a day. –Dates back to 312 BC –It is now partially ruined.

Roman Sculpture Used original portrait sculpture to honor their emperors. Used original portrait sculpture to honor their emperors. The Roman Legislator – 125 AD The Roman Legislator – 125 AD –Illustrates the importance placed on realism in the later Roman style. –Makes no attempt to minimize the wrinkled and sagging skin.

Roman Sculpture The Column of Trajan The Column of Trajan –Rises over 130 feet. –Originally held a statue of Trajan on top, now holds a statue of Saint Peter.