Chapter 5: Ancient GreeceLesson 7: Early Classical

Warm-up 10-6-14 Ch.5 L6 Greece

Respond to the following:

1. What is the title of this work?

2. What period is this work from?

3. What are the stylistic characteristics?

Obj: SWBAT Describe the characteristics classical Greek Sculpture

HW Due Today:•Test Corrections•Read pages 124-128, 132-133

Title: Kroisos, from Anavysos, Greece, ca. 530 BCEPeriod: Archaic PeriodStylistic Features:•Frontal pose, arms at sides with clenched hands•Similar to Egyptian statues—canon of proportions•More naturalistic rendering•“Archaic Smile”

Announcements: Due today—Test

corrections½ point for each multiple

choice correction½ point for each point

lost on short answer Read pages 124-128,

132-133 Mrs Q will have a sub on

thurs and Friday next week

Excellent report & clean room = movie for a period & a candy bar

Agenda: Warm-up Announcements and

Reminders Review Hera Temple I

Office HoursTuesday 3:00-4:00Thursday 3:00-4:00

Early Classical Period

Greek Context

Early Classical Period ContextContext:• The Greeks defeated the Persians• High point in Greek society• The era of Socrates, Pythagoras, and other influential people on

philosophy, science, literature, etc.• Pythagoras discovers harmonic chords expressed in ratios or proportions

—thought that these proportions could be found in nature

Classical Sculpture• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS0u8XpLoTI

What is so special about Classical Greek sculpture?What is revolutionary about it?

If we look at the early Greek sculpture, the Anavysos Kouros (c 525 BCE), the unnatural stiffness is still present.

CONTRAPPOSTO

...the shoulders are level

...the hips are level

...both fists are level

...even the knees are level

...but the left leg is thrust forward. The left leg is forward and would have to be six inches longer!

Does the Anavysos Koursos statue demonstrate contrapposto?

The Answer is NO.

CONTRAPPOSTO

Contrapposto first appeared in classical Greek sculpture.

...the left shoulder is higher than the right shoulder

...an angle from the right shoulder to the left hip. The leg is relaxed and the hip bone is lower.

...the right leg bears all the body’s weight.

Also notice how the knees are not level and at an angle. The shoulders counterbalance the hips.

If the hips and shoulders were parallel, we could not balance and would fall over!

CONTRAPPOSTO (or COUNTERBALANCE)--describes the stance of the human body in which one leg bears the weight while the other is relaxed. An asymmetry is created in the shoulder-hip axis. This is a natural, relaxed body pose. Early sculptures of human figures, while anatomically correct, appeared stiff and unnatural

Check for understanding • What is “contrapposto”?

Kritios Boy

from the Acropolis, Athens, Greece

ca. 480 B.C.E.marble34 in. high

Early Classical PeriodKritios Boy, from the Acropolis, Athens, Greece, ca. 480 B.C.E.

Stylistic Features:One of the most important statues in the history of artContrapposto-weight shift, head turn and tilt,Sculptor was the first to represent this more

naturalistic pose

Check for understanding • What is the title of this work?• What period is this work from?• What is the significance of this work?

Polykleitos

Doryphoros (Spear Bearer)

ca. 450-440 B.C.E.Roman marble copy after a bronze original6’ 11”

Classical Sculpture• http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/classical-g

reek.html

What is so special about Classical Greek sculpture?What is revolutionary about it?

Polykleitos

Doryphoros (Spear Bearer)

ca. 450-440 B.C.E.6’ 11”

Early Classical PeriodDoryphoros (Spear Bearer)

Artist: Polykleitos

Stylistic Features:Contrapposto , asymmetricalCanon or Canon of Polykleitos– mathematical formula for perfect proportions of a statue

Early Classical PeriodFunction & Significance:

This is a Roman copyThe embodiment of the perfect statue of a nude male or warriorHarmony of opposites—appearing to step forward but not moving

Motion while at rest

Check for understanding • What are the stylistic features of this

work?• Why did the Greeks abandon the Egyptian

style (stiff and rigid)?

Exit Slip—No Notes Allowed

• List the 3 unusual characteristics about the Temple of Hera I Paestum, Italy