Download art 201, handout 5, early greek art to 480 bce

ART 201, HANDOUT 5, EARLY GREEK ART
Geometric Age: the period c. 900-700 BCE, when Greek art was dominated by geometric motifs
primarily on painted pottery. Around 800 BCE geometricized figural scenes appear (Funerary
krater, c. 740 BCE), generally illustrating funerals. By around 750-700 BCE Greek artists were
trying to depict scenes of myth (Centaur and Man, c. 750 BCE), but the limitations of the Geometric
style hampers our ability to recognize the scenes.
Greek vase shapes: a large bowl for mixing wine and water at male drinking parties is a krater. A
two handled storage vessel (wine, water, olive oil, grain) is an amphora, a one handle, narrow
necked pitcher for bath oils is called a lekythos. In the Geometric period, when large vases are used
as grave markers, a man’s grave had a krater, a woman’s an amphora.
The Orientalizing Period: the 7th century BCE, when Greek art adapted many motifs and
techniques learned from the ancient Near East and Egypt to Greek usage. Artistic leaders in this
century were the artists of Corinth, who invented the black-figured technique for painting pottery c.
675 BCE, and whose vases generally are decorated with multiple friezes of animals (amphora, c.
600 BCE) The Corinthians exported many vases to Italy, where the people (especially the Eturscans)
collected them eagerly. Sculpture in the seventh century was conceptual in style, that is, they have
abstracted anatomical forms; the men are often nude (Mantiklos’ Apollo, c. 680 BCE), the women
clothed (Lady of Auxerre, c. 625 BCE).
The Archaic Age: the 6th century BCE and down to the end of the Persian Wars in 480 BCE. A
period when the city-states characteristic of Greek society develop their characteristic political
forms, the oligarchy (rule of the wealthy few), and the democracy (rule of the people).
Black-figured technique: the vase painter drew the figures in silhouette with the black gloss
(lustrous slip-often called “glaze”). Details were then incised through the gloss with a graver. Most
notable artists were Athenians during the mid-6th century BCE, especially Exekias (Achilles and
Ajax Play Dice, c. 540 BCE) and Kleitias and Ergotimos (Francois Vase/Krater, c. 570 BCE). The
black-figured technique was superceded by as a leading artistic technique red-figured after c. 520
BCE: few “bilingual” vases show the transition
Red-figured technique: the reverse of black-figured. Figures were outlined on the red ground
(surface) of the vase in black gloss with a brush, and the internal details of figures also drawn with a
brush. Artists were able to depict more 3-D poses and details of the anatomy with this technique. For
example, the gloss could be diluted to create less visible lines, and used to model a figure’s threedimensionality. Developed ca. 530 BCE, with the finest work done c. 515-490 (Euphronios,
"Herkales wrestles Antaeus,” c. 510 BCE; Euthymides “Three Dancing Drunks” c. 510 B CE), and
declined as an art medium after c. 480 BCE, although red-figure continued into the 4th century BCE.
Kore: a statue of a clothed young woman. Early korai stand still and their bodies tend to look
columnar (Lady of Auxerre, c. 625 BCE; Peplos kore, c. 530 BCE.). Later korai lift their skirts with
their left hands and daintily stride (Kore from Chios, c. 520 BCE). They probably mainly depict
priestessesand are found in sanctuaries (and hence commemorate a woman’s service to religion),
although some were used on graves. The type could be used to depict a goddess, and it is clear that,
when a kore “depicted” a human, the “portrait” was not realistic.
Kouros: a statue of a nude young man, which during the Archaic Age stride forward and look
straight ahead of themselves. The stauary type was borrowed from Egyptian sculpture in the late 7th
century BCE, but immediately adapted to reflect the values of Greek culture. Beginning around 600
BCE (New York Kouros) the anatomy of the type was constantly improved on until it was correct
(c. 500 BCE), although the pose remained unnaturally stiff and frontal. The Kroisos Kouros (c. 530
BCE) shows nearly correct anatomy in a funerary statue of a young warrior who died in battle.
Again, these were not portraits in our sense, but, like the korai, showed an ideal image of a type of
human being.
ART 201, HANDOUT 6, GREEK ARCHITECTURE
The Greek Temple: a simple form of religious architecture which derived its monumentality from
its architectural decorative systems (Doric or Ionic orders). Geometric temples (9th-8th centuries
BCE) were small wooden structures that survive only in the form of small ceramic models of
buildings, but those consistently take the form of a single room for a cult statue and a front porch
supported by two columns. This basic format, which resembles the earlier megaron of Mycenaean
palaces, then was embellished in the seventh century BCE in some centers by the addition of a
wooden colonnade (Greek=peristyle) around the whole building. Greek religious ceremonies took
place in front of the temple at an open-air altar, and the temple served to hold an image (statue) of
the god, that the god could occupy to watch the ceremonies. By 600 BCE, probably influenced by
memories of Egyptian temples some Greeks had seen, major temples were being built in stone. The
larger Greek temples had a colonnade surrounding the actual sanctuary, which consisted of a
rectangular room (cella) containing a cult statue of the god, fronted by an an open porch which
allowed the statue to gaze out at an altar in front of the temple where the actual religiuos ceremonies
took place. Greek temples often had an open porch in back of the cella which was not connected to
it by a door. This room was used for the storage of precious dedications to the god. It is important to
remember that only large temples had columns around their central cult buildings; small temples
continued to take the original form of the temple, that is a simple cult room with a two columned
porch, like the Temple of Athena Nike in Athens, 420s BCE.
The Doric Order: an austere and geometrically ordered style of architecture developed on the
Greek mainland and in the colonies in Italy. Characteristic is the simple, blocky capital, and the
triglyph and metope frieze (Temple of Hera I, Paestum, 550 BCE, Temple of Aphaia, Aegina, c.
500-480 BCE).
The Ionic Order: a more ornate and decorative style of architecture most common in the Greek
islands and the Greek cities on the coast of Asia Minor. The columns stood on bases and had
capitals with volutes (spirals) and other carved ornament. Smaller Ionic temples (Temple of Athena
Nike, Athens, 420s BCE) and Treasuries at great sanctuaries (Treasury of the Siphnians, Delphi, c.
530 BCE) often had sculpted friezes. The latter also had statues of priestesses in place its columns.
Pedimental Sculpture: stone sculpture was placed in the triangular area of a Greek temple defined
by the cornices. Beginning c. 580 BCE with the high relief group on the Temple of Artemis at
Korfu, which shows three scenes in differing scales (notably the great central figure of Medusa
famed by panthers), the Greek artists gradually developed unified compositions that fit the triangular
space. The East Pediment of the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina (c. 480 BCE) shows a unified battle
scene with all the figures in the same scale, and also shows an interest in depicting pain realistically
(Dying Warrior). On the Temple of Zeus at Olympia (c. 460 BCE), the East Pediment showed the
beginning of a chariot race between Pelops and the evil king Oinomaus (at Olympia) which would
have consequences for generations of Pelops’ descendents. The figures are all to one scale, and
cunningly arranged to fit in the triangular space, and subtly predict the awful consequences of the
race (Old Seer), which poses the question of God’s plan for humans and their actions.
The Battle of Gods and Giants: the Gods defeat an attack by the evil Giants; becomes an allegory
for the triumph of Good over Evil. The Siphnian Treasury at Delphi (c. 530 BCE) included a relief
frieze depicting the Battle of Gods and Giants. The figures on this show an interest in threedimensional poses, although, like all Greek friezes, the action takes place in a limited space.
Athena: virgin goddess of wisdom and crafts, patroness of heroes and the city of Athens.
The Parthenon, Athens: a large Doric temple built on the Acropolis (citadel) of Athens 447-432
BCE, and dedicated to Athena the Virgin. Designed by the architects Iktinos and Kallikrates, it had
many "visual refinements" or deviations from strict rectangularity (such as cigar-shaped columns
which lean in slightly, bowed top of foundations etc.) to give the temple an appearance of organic
life. The Parthenon also has an Ionic frieze running around the top of the exterior of the building
Handout 6
Page 2
inside the colonnade. This depicts an ideal rendering of a parade which took place each year in
honor of Athena, and forms part of the sculptural program of the Parthenon, which was designed by
Phidias. This sculptural program is the most complete and finest expression of the noble idealism of
the High Classical Age (c. 450-400 BCE), and can be seen in on the frieze (Horsemen), and the
pedimental sculpture (Three Goddesses).
The Propylaea, Athens: a monumental gateway to the Athenian Acropolis built by Mnesikles 437432 BCE. It has Doric facades akin to those of Greek temples, but the columns in the passageway
are Ionic. On its north side, by the entrance to the Acropolis, was a room used as a picture gallery,
the world's first art museum.
The Erechtheion, Athens: an Ionic temple of odd form due to the multiple gods worshipped in it.
Built c. 421-405 BCE, it is notable for its exquisitely carved ornament, and Porch of the Maidens,
which uses statues of priestesses in place of columns.
The Corinthian Order: developed ca. 400 BC, distinguished from Ionic by its use of a capital or
top of the column which features vegetation and flowers (Capital, Epidaurus, c. 350 BCE);
otherwise uses the same decorative system as Ionic. Not used extensively by the Greeks, and mainly
for ornate, often round, buildings (Tholos at Delphi, c. 375 BCE) or interiors, more popular in later
Roman architecture. The Lysikrates Monument in Athens (336 BCE) was a piece of architectural
sculpture, rather than a true building.
Greek Theaters: built into the natural slopes of hillsides, monumental theaters such as the Theater
at Epidaurus (c. 350 BCE), which appeared in Greek cities after 400 BCE illustrate the generally
out-of-doors nature of ancient Greek life and their disinterest in interior spaces in architecture. Like
all Greek architecture, theaters were simple structures with stone seats in tiers on the hillside
arranged around a circular dance floor (orchestra) backed by a scene building.
The Stoa: a long rectangular building with an open, columned front often found in the Agora, or
marketplace of a Greek city. Often served a s market. The Stoa of Attalos, named after a king of
Pergamon who gave it to the Athenians, has been reconstructed in the Agora in Athens (c. 150
BCE). A philosophical school met in one of the stoas in Athens in the third century BCE, and its
followers became known as “Stoics.”
Greek Town Planning: Greek cities were laid out on a rectangular grid (as much as possible), with
fixed lot sizes and a central marketplace, precincts for temples and theatres, all surrounded by
houses. Recreational structures such as gymnasia were usually on the edge of town. Priene in Asia
Minor was refounded around 350 BCE, and provides a good picture of a Greek city.
ART 201, HANDOUT 7, CLASSICAL GREEK ART OF THE 5TH CENTURY BCE
The Severe Style: a descriptive term for the sculpture of the Early Classical Age (c. 480-450 BCE),
when statues had serious, almost pouting expressions, and very heavy, doughy drapery . Kritios' Boy (c.
480 BCE) shows the beginning of Classical art, and already has the contrapposto stance which
distinguishes Classical statues from the earlier works of the Archaic Age. This new pose is further
refined in the Riace Warrior of ca. 450 BCE. The Delphi Charioteer of c. 475 BCE shows the new
drapery. Early Classical sculpture also shows the human body in new action poses, as seen in the
sculpture from the west pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia (c. 460 BCE). At times, although
believable, these action poses prove on close analysis to be exaggerated (Discus Thrower by Myron, c.
450 BCE).
The Niobid Painter: Athenian Red-figure painter of the middle of the 5th century BCE. His “namevase” shows Apollo and Artemis slaughtering the children of Niobe (who had insulted the gods’
mother)-this shows a new attempt to render three-dimensional space that reflects the influence of
monumental painting.
Herakles: muscular Greek hero whose deeds illustrated man's ability to control his environment.
Especially important after 550 B.C. Considered to have become a god through the greatness of his
deeds (Metope from Zeus Temple showing Herakles receiving the Apples of the Hesperides,
Olympia, ca. 465 BCE). On the negative side, overfond of wine and oversexed; had many
descendents.
The Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs: one of the Greek myths that became an allegory for the
triumph of civilization over savagery. Centaurs were half-horse, half-men who came to the wedding
feast of the King of the Lapiths, got drunk, groped the Lapith women and were exterminated by the
Lapiths for their misbehavior (Parthenon metope, c. 445 BCE).
Spearbearer of Polykleitos: preserved only in Roman copies, this important High Classical statue (c.
450-440 BCE) was also called the "Canon", because its proportions set a standard for nude male statues
for the next century. This demonstrates the curious fact that the naturalistic and ideal statues of the
Classical Age were constructed from mathematical ratios rather than from observation of real humans.
Original statue was bronze.
The Rich Style: an odd and artificial style in Greek sculpture c. 425-375 BCE. The Rich Style was
characterized by a rich patterning of folds which lie tight over the female body. At times the ladies seem
to be wearing wet T-shirts (Sandalbinder from the Nike Temple Balustrade, c. 410 BCE), in other
examples the style comes closer to that of the Parthenon pediments, the point of origin for the Rich Style
(i.e. the Porch of the Maidens, Erechtheum, c. 420 BCE). The gravestone of Hegeso (c. 400 BCE) from
Athens uses Rich Style qualities in its depiction of a woman examining her jewelry.
White Ground: a technique of painting pottery (Infant Dionysos Given to the Nymphs, c. 440 BCE)
that creates polychrome images close to monumental painting (Tomb of the Diver, Paestum, c. 480
BCE). Often in Athens used on lekythoi, a type of oil vase frequently used as a burial gift in 5th century
BCE. Athens. Figures were painted on a chalky white surface in pastel colors; the figures are noble, and
the compositions are alluringly natural.
Greek portraits: the Greeks strove to present the true essence (ie psychology) of the individual in a
portrait, rather than a true-to-life image. Although portraits are known in the Greek world from the 5th
century BCE (Perikles, c. 430 BCE), they became increasingly more important after 400 BCE, as
individuals became more important in Greek life. Greek portraits are always ideal, such as the heroic and
handsome images of Alexander the Great, or the tormented image of the Athenian statesman
Demosthenes, who unsuccessfully opposed the Macedonian conquest of Greece. Demosthenes’ portrait
of c. 278 BCE survives in Roman copies; typically, it was created 45 years after he died by a sculptor
who probably never saw D. Portraits were intended to provide lessons for behavior (Demosthenes thus
was a sort of “Profile in Courage” advocating resistance to oppression). The images of the deceased on
Attic tombstones (Hegeso, c. 400; Young Man, c. 340) are always ideal, and hence difficult to see as true
images of individuals.
ART 201, HANDOUT 8, LATE CLASSICAL (4th CENTURY BCE) AND HELLENISTIC ART
Praxiteles: Athenian sculptor active ca. 370-320 BCE. His most famous work, the Aphrodite of Knidos
(c. 360 BCE), was the first nude image of the goddess of love and beauty; it survives only in Roman
copies. Another work, the Hermes and the infant Dionysos (c. 330-270 BCE), is probably by a pupil of
Praxiteles, but shows the master's graceful and languid style. It presents a natural human interaction
between a youth and a baby, although both are supposed to be divine.
Lysippus: bronze sculptor of the second half of the 4th century BCE who established a new, slimmer set
of proportions for the ideal male form. His Apoxyomenos (Athlete Scraping Himself, c. 330 BCE) shows
these new proportions, which replaced those established by the Spearbearer of Polykleitos. He also
created famous portraits of Alexander the Great, that may survive in diluted form in copies (Head of
Alexander, 3rd BCE)
Rape of Persephone: a painting which decorates the interior a tomb in the royal cemetery at Vergina in
Macedonia of c. 350 BCE. It shows the God of the Underworld carrying off the goddess (to marry her)
in an impressionistic and momentary style with dynamic pose and shading, but without any natural
setting.
The Hellenistic Age: the period from the conquest of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great (336323 BCE) to the final conquest of the Greek World by Rome (31 BCE). In this period Greek culture and
art expanded throughout the eastern Mediterranean, and Greek art became increasingly secular (nonreligious), including genre (everyday life) subject matter, as well as erotic images (Sleeping Satyr, c.
200 BCE).
The Alexander Mosaic: made of small cut stone squares, and found in a Roman house at Pompeii,
where it decorated a floor. Most scholars agree that it is a close copy of a Greek painting of the late 4th
century BCE (probably a painting done by Philoxenos of Eretria in 316 BCE). For this reason, it shows
one of the problems in evaluating Roman painting, since it copies an earlier painting. It shows, in a
limited three-dimensional space with no real landscape, Alexander and Darius nearly coming to blows at
the Battle of Issus in 333 BCE. Like the Rape of Persephone, the Alexander Mosaic has threedimensional poses and shading, but it is a depiction of an actual historical event, not a mythic story.
Altar of Zeus, Pergamon: an enormous Ionic altar c.180-150 BCE.to the Greek Father of the Gods
in a city in Asia Minor. Approximately 100 feet square, its colonnade stood atop a tall podium and
was entered by steps at one side. On the exterior, it was adorned by a frieze in high relief which
depicted an overlifesize Battle of Gods and Giants in a dramatic "Baroque" style (Athena and
Alcyoneous).
Hellenistic "Baroque" Style: a dynamic and dramatic style which developed in the later 3rd century
BCE, especially in the Kingdom of Pergamon in northern Asia Minor. The Kings of Pergamon used this
"Baroque" style to celebrate their military victories, The most notable monument of the style, the Altar of
Zeus at Pergamon (c. 180-150 BCE), had a large frieze depicting the Battle of Gods and Giants (Athena
and Alcyoneus). An earlier victory monument (c. 225 BCE) had freestanding figures which survive only
in Roman copies (Gaul Killing Himself and His Wife). Another dramatic victory monument, the Nike
(Victory) of Samothrace (c. 190 BCE), apparently was made on the island of Rhodes south of Asia
Minor and shows that the style was used by other centers of Hellenistic sculpture. A later Rhodian work,
the Laokoon group (original 1st BCE?) demonstrates that the style survived into the Roman period, since
it was copied several times for Romans (see also the Odysseus from Sperelonga, early 1st CE).
Neoclassical Style: a style of Greek sculpture which looked back to Classical sculpture, particularly of
the 4th BCE and used it for inspiration. The Venus de Milo (c. 150 BCE) is a good example of this
derivative style. Neoclassical style was adopted by Augustus for his official sculpture for propaganda
reasons (Ara Pacis, Augustus of Primaporta).
ART 201, HANDOUT 10, Etruscan/Early Roman Art and Architecture
The Etruscans: a mysterious people who lived just north of Rome in central Italy. Their civilization
flowered from the 7th through the 5th centuries BCE, after which they were gradually absorbed into
Rome's growing empire. We cannot read their language, and know of them chiefly through their art,
especially their tombs.
Tomb of Hunting and Fishing, Tarquinia: a tomb of ca. 520 BCE notable for its paintings, which include
scenes of enjoyable human activities (fishing and hunting birds), as well as a youth diving into the water
(the underworld?). Notable for its early depiction of landscape.
Tomb of the Leopards, Tarquinia: a tomb of ca. 480 BCE notable for its paintings, which show a
funerary banquet with athletic and musical activities. While there is little 3-D in the depiction, it is quite
lively and colorful.
Tomb of the Reliefs, Cerveteri: a tomb of the 3rd century BCE notable for the reliefs on the walls of the
burial chamber. These depict everyday objects and show us that Etruscan tombs were meant to be
"houses for the dead."
The Etruscan Temple: generally built of wood on stone foundations, Etruscan temples only had columns
in front, and stood on a high podium. They were entered by a staircase at the front. This format, seen
also on later Roman temples, gave Etruscan temples a frontality alien to Greek temples. The ornament on
Etruscan temples was generally made of terracotta, including at times freestanding statues on the roof
(Apollo of Veii, ca. 510 BCE).
Capitoline Shewolf: a bronze statue in the Etruscan style of the wolf which suckled Romulus and Remus,
the legendary founders of Rome. Dated to c. 500-480 BCE, it was found on the Capitoline Hill in Rome.
Chimaera: found at Arezzo in central Italy, this bronze statue of c. 350 BCE shows the Etruscan interest
in Greek myths and monsters. The Chimaera had a lion’s head, a snake tail, and a goats head in the
middle of its back. Itwas killed by the hero Bellerophon riding his trusty winged steed Pegasos.
The Ficoroni Cista: a bronze toiletry box found at Palestrina near Rome, but made by Novios Plautios of
Rome (who signed it) around 350-300 BCE. It depicts a Greek myth from the cycle of Jason and the
Argonauts, in which a pugilistic king (Amycus) is defeated in a boxing match by the hero/god Pollux
and punished for his evil deeds. The scene is incised on the cylindrical box (and thus looks like a
drawing), but clearly copies an elaborate Greek painting in Rome of around 350 BCE. The handle of the
box shows a drunken god Dionysos (god of wine, among other things) supported by two satyr buddies.
The feet are in the form of lions paws squishing toads!
Aulus Metellus: called l'Arringatore (the orator) this bronze statue of a civic magistrate wearing a toga
and raising his hand to command attention was found in a lake in central Italy. An inscription in the
Etruscan language gives his name, but the statue's realism and attention to his status makes it an early
example of Roman portraiture (c. 100 BCE). The Romans had conquered Etruria in the fourth century
BCE.