1. Classical Greece

2. Early Classical Greece
Architects and sculptors are seeking VISUAL HARMONY in proportional systems.
Heightened NATURALISM depicting the human form.
Famous playwrights: Sophocles, Euripides, etc.
Famous philosophical thinkers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle.
Most influential political leader is PERIKLES. --- AVID PATRON OF THE ARTS. Favors the Acropolis.

3. Kritios Boy - CONTRAPPOSTO
Position favors Kouros with one leg forward.. Although an important change has occurred.
WEIGHT SHIFT- Right leg acts as a prop to help balance the body.
K-boy stands at EASE..
The leg that carries all the weight (LEFT LEG) is called the ENGAGED LEG.
Right leg is FREE LEG.

4. Kritios Boy continued…
Represents MOVEMENT with increased naturalism.
Encourages the viewer to move around it.
Even though K-boy is at rest, his muscles suggest motion.
Think of Kouros vs. Kritios Boy
Innovative movement in musculature.
No more archaic smile. GONE.

5. ZEUS- Representation of Movement
BRONZE
Almost 7 feet tall.
Casting a thunderbolt probably.
Sculptor captures MOVEMENT & STABILITY at the same time.
Shows off the artist’s understanding of the human body in motion and his strengths in bronze- allows the arms to stretch out without supports.

6. Riace Warrior- Bronze Survivng Greek BRONZE statues are rare.
Riace is OVER LIFE sized.
Found off the coast of Riace, Italy.
Sculptors used a refined version of the LOST WAX TECHNIQUE.
Additive technique. No cutting away stone.
Cast HOLLOW statues.

7. Indirect lost-wax process
Clay core and covered in wax.
Details are carved in the wax.
The figure is sectioned into body parts.
Now heavy clay is applied and secured with metal pegs.
It is now HEATED to melt the wax which runs out. Molten metal (BRONZE) is poured into the space left by the wax.
Molds are broken, leaving a metal casting, and sections are soldered together.
Riace teeth are silver, lips and nipples are copper.

8. The Acropolis (sometimes spelled Akropolis)
Principal center of Athenian public life.
Construction is ordered by Perikles (sometimes spelled Pericles)
In Archaic times, there was only one sizable temple dedicated to Athena. There were some smaller temples and votive statues. This was ruined after the Persian sack of 480.

9. Just know your ACROPOLIS!
Know all three structures and how to identify each.
Know the difference between IONIC, DORIC, and CORINTHIAN Orders.
Know what carytids are and which structure has them.

10. Canon of Polykleitos
POLYKLEITOS was a bronze sculptor in the early 4th century BCE.
Considered the most important sculptor of classical antiquity.
The “canon” (which just means it’s written) is a set of mathematical rules of balance and symmetry of a male nude.
Uses a male nude athlete for point of reference.
Sculpture is in between movement and rest.
Had a school of followers.

11. Polykleitos continued. ..
The bronze original does not survive… only marble copies.
The whole point of the “Canon” was to achieve “BEAUTY” by “SYMMETRY”.
DORYPHOROS- The Spear Bearer.
The END OF HIGH CLASSICAL..

12. Late Classical… PRAXITELES
Develops a more extensive set of sculpture rules… based on Canon of Polykleitos
First sculptor to sculpt the nude LIFE SIZED FEMALE.
Works almost entirely in marble.
Has a school of followers.