Ancient Greek Art

Ancient Greeks

• Humanism - focus on potential of humans

• Sought perfection of the body and mind

• Sought Beauty and Truth

• Own religion based on mythological Gods and Goddesses

• Greatly influenced Western culture – government / democracy, systems of education, ideas of human individualism, athletics

Ancient Greek Periods

• Archaic (700 – 480 BCE)

• Classical (480 – 323 BCE)

• Hellenistic (323 – 30 BCE)

Anavysos Kouros

Sculpture (Marble)

530 BCE (Archaic)

1.93 M Tall

Anavysos Kouros

Kouros means “young man” in Greek

Represents the ideal “perfect” young man (strong, athletic, smooth skin, classic features)

Classic pose (one foot forward, hands at the sides)

“Archaic smile”

Pose is similar to Egyptian figures

Peplos Kore

Peplos Kore, 530 BCE (Archaic) Marble, height 121 cm

Peplos Kore

Kore - “young woman”

Peplos – style of dress that she is wearing

“Archaic smile”

Originally wore a metal crown and jewelry

Originally painted with patterns of animals

Missing left forearm – arm once held an object that would have identified her role

Polykleitos Doryphorus (Spear Bearer) Marble (Roman Copy) 450 - 440 BCE (Classical)

• Polykleitos, the sculptor, created a “Canon” - perfect proportions of human figure

• Figure originally held a spear (warrior)

• Contrapposto (gentle s-curve pose)

• Naturalism

• Counter Balance

• Harmony

Comparison

Dying Warrior, Marble, 480 BCE (Classical), 6’1” long

From the Temple of Aphaia, Aegina, Greece

Naturalistic (Classical characteristic)

diagonal movement

Figure trying to lift himself up using his shield

Warrior is focused on his own pain and does not look out to the viewer

Discus Thrower

Sculpture (Marble / Roman Copy)

450 BCE (Classical)

1.54 M Tall

Discus ThrowerSculpture is a copy by the Romans (who loved Greek art)

Discus Throwing is an Olympic sport

Greeks started the original Olympic Games in 776 BCE

Anatomy of the human figure

Movement of the figure

Lysippos The Scraper Marble 330 BCE (Classical)

Lysippos was the court artist of Alexander the Great, King of Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon

"Other artists make men as they are, I make them as they appear.” - Lysippos

Athlete scraping off sweat and dust using a scraping tool called a strigil

Contrapposto with arm stretched out

Roman copy from original bronze

Venus de Milo

Sculpture (Marble)

150 BCE (Hellenistic)

2.1 M Tall

Venus de MiloGreek Title - Aphrodite of Melos

Classic Beauty of the Female Form

Elongated Body with S-curve pose (contrapposto)

“Erotic” tension of her drapery falling off her body

Arms broken off – originally holding an apple? (found in a field on the Island of Melos in 1820)

Nike of Samothrace

Sculpture (Marble)

190 BCE (Hellenistic)

2.44 M Tall

Nike of Samothrace

Nike – Greek Goddess of Victory

Sometimes called “Winged Victory”

Monument which originally stood on a hill (Victory Monument)

Louvre Museum, Paris

Ancient Greek PotteryGreek Vase Forms

Francois Vase

Sculpture (Painted Ceramic)

570 BCE (Archaic)

66 cm

Francois VaseDiscovered by a French archaeologist, Francois

Signed by the painter and the potter

Black Figure Pottery (black on red decoration)

Volute Crater Shape

Many stories, including the story of the wedding of King Peleus

200 animal and human figures

Euthymides, Three Revelers, 510 BCE (Archaic) 2’ Tall

• Painted by Euthymides

• Amphora Vase Form (Wine Storage Jar)

• Red Figure Pottery

• Theme of Three Revelers relates to the wine storage jar (revelers are people celebrating in a lively and noisy way)

• Figures in 3/4 View (Foreshortening)

3 Types of Greek Columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian

The Greek Columns became more elaborate as time advanced

(the oldest column is the Doric)

Sanctuary of Apollo

Architecture

6th – 3rd century BCE

Sanctuary of ApolloSacred home of the Greek God Apollo (God of sun, light, truth, music, archery, and healing)

Greeks believed Apollo could communicate to humans through a human medium called the Pythia

Located at Delphi (the site of the Pythian Games – a festival and competition of music, dance, and poetry

The Greeks searched for perfect proportions (relationship between size differences) in their sculpture and temples

The Greeks used a ratio called the Golden Section (Golden Ratio, or Golden Mean) in their art and architecture

Parthenon, Acropolis

Architecture

447 – 438 BCE (Classical Period)

Parthenon, Acropolis

Located in Athens, Greece

Temple built for Goddess Athena (Goddess of Athens, wisdom, war, victory, and civilization)

Acropolis - complex of buildings

Perfect Harmony and Balance (Golden Section)

Designed by Kallikrates and Iktinos (architects)

Doric Columns

The Golden Section as applied to the Parthenon

Pediment – a triangular gable found over major architectural elements such as porticos, windows, or doors

East Pediment of the Parthenon

East Pediment of the Parthenon

447 – 438 BCE (Classical Period)

East Pediment

of the Parthenon

Also known as the “Elgin Marbles” because British Earl of Elgin bought the pediment and later gave it to British government (today it's in the British Museum)

Originally over 90 feet long – now missing it's central part - less than 40 feet survives (probably destroyed by Christians in the 5th Century when Parthenon was converted to a church)

Figures illustrate the birth of Athena (goddess of wisdom and civilization)

Nude figure on the left is Dionysos (God of wine)

MetopeA metope is a rectangular architectural element that fills the space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze.

Centaur and Lapith Metope Marble, 447 – 438 BCE

One of the Metopes of the Parthenon (originally 92 in number) on the outside walls

Centaur is a mythological creature that has the lower body of a horse and upper body of a human

The Lapiths are legendary people of Greek mythology

According to one version of the myth, the Centaurs, insulted from being excluded from a wedding celebration, attacked the Lapiths