CLASSICISM

Ancient Greece & Rome800 B.C – 450 A.D.

Philosophy of Art

The arts present the universal idea of beauty through logic, order, reason and moderation.

The purpose of the arts is to show perfection in human form and structure.

Characteristics of the Arts

Art forms focus on the humanistic element

“Super human” images and structures prevail

Stories and dance expand on emotion

Music is intellectual and scientific

THE GREEKS

Greek Art

Ancient Greece gave us the basis for most of our formal structures and images

Their ideals have been the measuring stick by which other styles were evaluated

The Devine Ratio: Phi

The concept was first promoted by the Greek geometer Euclid

It is based on the Fibonacci Sequence {1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,etc.}

Like Pi, it is an irrational number {1.618033988…}

We just call it 1.618

More on Phi

It is said to exist in nature and dictates the best proportions that are pleasing to the eye

The Golden Section

This is the geometric equivalent of PhiIt can be applied to most works of art to determine their use of the Elements of Art through the Principles of DesignThe Greeks were masters in its’ use

The Parthenon

The signature structure of Greek architecture

Innovations include: post & lintel construction, sloping roof, colonnade

A perfect example of the ideal of Phi

Basis for design of Washington D.C.

More Parthenon

Built as a temple to the goddess Athena

Designed to be the feature building of the Acropolis

Uses all Elements of Art in its’ design

How It Probably Looked

The Discus Thrower

Completed by Myron in 450 B.C.

The best example of classic Greek sculpture

Shows the ideal of the perfect human form

Well developed body in motion

The Column

Pythagoras – Music TheoryPythagoras was the first to experiment with and discuss the science of soundHe discovered that two strings of equal tension produce the same sound.When divided in ½ the shorter string produces the same pitch 1 octave higher

Ancient Greek Music

Music was inseparable from poetry and dance

It was made up of mostly a simple melody with instrumental accompaniment

Used in story telling and celebration

Major Instruments

Purposes of Music

To tell stories – Many of Homer’s tales were sung to the audienceTo dance – either to tell stories or histories or convey emotionTo celebrate – The festivals of the God Dionysus required music for merry making

Greek Drama

Drama was a major source of entertainment in ancient GreecePerformances would last for days usually organized around seasonal festivalsAudiences could be as large as 30,000 people

More Greek Drama

Stories included tragedies and comedies

Tragedies: Stories in which the protagonist loses

Comedies: Stories in which the protagonist wins

Oedipus Rex

Tragedies were quite popular

One of the most famous is Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

It is the story of a man who kills his father and marries his mother to the ruin of all

Medea

Medea by Euripides is considered the greatest tragedy and is still performed todayIt tells the story of a woman scorned by her husbandShe kills him and later their children in order to protect them

Drama Basics

Presentation is similar to that of the Japanese NohAll actors are menMasks are worn to portray emotion and character elementsPlots have many twists and turns

Three Great Playwrights

Literature - HomerPoet writer of great epic talesThe Iliad: The story of the siege of TroyThe Odyssey: The story of Ulysses’ wanderingsThese document many of the Greek myths and histories

Plato

Considered the father of modern thoughtDeveloped the concept of the modern DemocracyHis writing “The Republic” is written in dialogue form to make his ideas understandable

Socrates

A contemporary of Plato’s

Believed in thought and teaching – ideas and knowledge are living things

One should do what is right even when universally opposed

Aesop

Thought to be a slave in the 6th Century B.C.Wrote fables that told stories giving a moral messageUsed animals as human characters“The Tortoise & the Hare” is an example

THE ROMANS

Ancient Rome

Rome was the largest geographic and strongest political empire of Europe for almost 1000 years

While great innovators, they were not the creators that the Greeks were

Roman Art

Because of their Etruscan heritage, the Romans were influenced by the Greeks

Very interested in portraits

Focused on reality more than Greeks

More Roman Art

Later in the history of the Empire, they used art as propaganda for the greatness of Rome

Throughout their history, they only gave religion a passing glace in their art

Innovations

The Romans shared a love of large decorated structures with the GreeksThis lead to advancements in building like:ConcreteArchesDomes

Aqueducts

Built to supply the city of Rome with water

When Rome’s population was 1 million, the aqueducts supplied 1 cubic meter per person per day

Arch construction was used to bridge valleys

The ColiseumBuilt as a source of entertainment for allCould seat 50,000 spectatorsTrap doors in the floor allowed for different entrances to the fieldA whole city existed below stage levelCould be flooded for water battles

Coliseum II

A canopy could be extended to give the spectators shade

Home of the famous gladiator battles

Also battle recreations, animal fights and other gruesome games were seen

The Pantheon

Built as a temple to the seven deities of the seven planets

The dome is concrete and meant to point to he heavens

The opening is 27 feet wide and the source of light

Pantheon IIIt’s reflection of the Parthenon is evident from the front viewThe temple is a perfect circle capped by the domeIt is another example of PhiSaid to be the model of the US Capitol