Download Throughout the history of man, the societies which have been

Throughout the history of man, the societies which have been labeled as the 'pillars of
civilization' have all had one common characteristic; excellence in the arts. Each society
had developed styles which were relevant to their times and philosophies, yet when
observed closely, one is able to find many common similarities within each.
When one thinks of the major contributions of each of these societies, several
stick out as being distinct or superior to others. These 'distinct' societies include the
Egyptian society the Greek society, and the Roman. Yet in order to properly assess each
culture, works from each period must be explored thoroughly. For this I have chosen to
compare and contrast three works from these eras: Daughters of Akhenaten (1379 - 1362
B.C.) from the Egyptian era of art, Dionysus in a Sailboat (C. 540 B.C) from the Greek
era, and finally Frieze In The Villa of The Mysteries (C. 50 B.C.) from the Roman
period.
Yet before one can endeavor into exploring these works, it is essential to know
the characteristics of the periods from which these works came into being. The first piece,
Daughters of Akhentan comes from a period of time know as the Amarna period within
Egyptian art. This period had much different conventions and formal qualities compared
to typical Egyptian art. Earlier Egyptian art, which was dictated by the Pharaoh, centered
around figures which were expressed ideally (stylized) rather than in a naturalistic form.
The anatomical attributes consisted of heads and legs which were in profile, torsos and
arms which were very frontal and the vary prominent single eye. Parallel lines were also
used to line up shoulders heads and arms. Furthermore, important figures were always
larger than others (Hierarchic proportions), and in formal poses. And finally women were
always painted white, while men always red. Yet in the Amarna period, the Pharaoh
Akhenaten, encouraged a style of art which was more emotional, peaceful and spiritual.
He encouraged a style of art which was true to life and expressive of one's emotions. The
second piece, Dionysus in a Sailboat came from era of Greek vase (cup) art. Greek
civilization was one which was characterized by the philosophy that 'man is a free and
worthy individual'. Their art portrayed a style of utter idealism, utilitarianism (win cup)
and pure aesthetic beauty, while at the same time was used to portray myths and adorn
their many gods. The third artistic culture which I have chosen to examine is that of the
Romans. Roman art generally focused around utilitarian purposes, while at the same time
still embodied power, realism and emotion. Their philosophy stressed that man
determines his own destiny, and that uniqueness among people is what makes them
special and distinct.
Now that an accurate historical overview of each individual era has been created,
one can properly assess and describe the characteristics of each individual work. The first
relationship which can be found within each of these pieces is that they are in essence
'flat'. When looking at Daughters of Akhentan, one is able to see that the artist of this wall
painting, has made little or no effort in creating any sort of depth or true perspective. The
two figures, which are characterized by playful gestures, lack the shading and accurate
proportions which are necessary to create these artistic factors. Furthermore the frontal
poses and the use of the single eye, also add to the lack of depth in the painting, because
only half of the actual head is seen by the viewer. These attributes can also be found
within the Greek wine cup of Dionysus in a Sailboat. This piece which describes a myth,
also lacks any depth or perspective. The main subject matter, the sailboat, lacks the
shading and perspective which creates the illusion of depth. The dolphins in the piece are
also very flat and unproportional to the boat. This lack of perspective can also be seen in
the sail of the ship and the grapes, they too lack any lines of perspective and shading
which are essential for depth. As one looks further up the art time line, this characteristic
flatness can also be seen within the Roman fresco, Frieze in the Villa of The Mysteries.
The utter lack of depth, as previously seen in Dionysus in a Sailboat, creates a feeling of
a giant flat plane, where figures have simply been 'stuck onto the wall'. There is also an
insurmountable lack of shading, perspective lines and tonal variation, all of which rob the
piece of any sort of depth.
As one begins to further examine these works with greater detail, other
relationships become evident. The second relationship which I found existed between
these works was that they were all characterized by low realism and were also very
stylized. In the work, Daughters of Akhentan, one is easily able to see the lack of human
form and proportion. The lack of anatomical correctness is clearly visible in the awkward
position of the legs, hands, torso and shoulders. The frontal view of the figures as well as
the stylized and simplified eyes, eyebrows and limbs also contribute to the paintings low
level of realism. In Dionysus in a Sailboat, this same low level of realism is evident
within the painting of the dolphins, and especially the ship. There is very little attention
paid to the proportions in this piece, and the over simplified forms (boat, grapes, vines
and dolphins) make this work very similar to the Daughters of Akhentan. As we look at
the next work, Frieze in the Villa of The Mysteries we are able to see that the Roman's
have made an attempt to steer away from totally stylized and simplified forms, and begin
to bring some realism into their works. Although the piece has made a major step towards
realism, it is undoubtedly still very stylized, as visible in the simplified hair, which is
very flat and not detailed, the faces, which lack tone and structure and the clothes, which
hang in an awkward manner. Also the frontal view of the figures, as in Daughters of
Akhentan, also add a dimension of low realism.
The final relationships which I was able to discover within these three works
dealt with the utilitarianism of the works, and the uniform balance which can be found
within each. All three paintings exhibit forms of uniform balance, which create a feeling
of stability and poise within the works. In Daughters of Akhentan, the hand which is
extending from one of the main figures creates a sense of left side and right side balance,
which ameliorates the overall look of the work. In Dionysus in a Sailboat, the placement
of the sailboat in the center surrounded by dolphins all in perfect symmetry, also creates a
feeling of uniform balance and stability. When looking at Frieze in the Villa of The
Mysteries, a sense of uniform balance is similarly created by using equally sized figures
as well as figures which are in a 'balanced symmetry' with one another. If one looks
closely at the Roman fresco, the number of figures used as well as how they are
symmetrically and strategically placed, all add to create a sense of foundation and
stability. Furthermore, I was able to draw a conclusion that all three pieces serve more
purpose than conventional works have, that is that they embody a certain unique
utilitarianism. Daughters of Akhentan as well as Frieze in the Villa of The Mysteries,
were both painted on walls, and served not only decorative purposes, but also told stories
and myths. Frieze in the Villa of The Mysteries, depicts the secret initiation rites for the
Classical world, while Daughters of Akhentan depict the family love of Pharaoh
Akhentan. The wine-cup, Dionysus in a Sailboat also held utilitarian uses, and at the
same time aesthetic ones. It was not simply a decorative model, rather served to preserve
an ancient Greek myth of Dionysus just as that in the Frieze in the Villa of The Mysteries
similarly does.
Thus after having rigorously and thoroughly examined these three works, I was
able to come to the conclusion that there are definite similarities and relationships which
exist between each. I was also able to conclude that each period of art was greatly
influenced by other previous society's styles and contents, and that each period would not
have originated had it not been for their predecessors.
Keywords:
throughout history societies which have been labeled pillars civilization have common
characteristic excellence arts each society developed styles which were relevant their
times philosophies when observed closely able find many common similarities within
each when thinks major contributions each these societies several stick being distinct
superior others these distinct societies include egyptian society greek society roman order
properly assess culture works from period must explored thoroughly this have chosen
compare contrast three works from these eras daughters akhenaten from egyptian
dionysus sailboat greek finally frieze villa mysteries roman period before endeavor into
exploring works essential know characteristics periods which came into being first piece
daughters akhentan comes period time know amarna within egyptian this much different
conventions formal qualities compared typical earlier dictated pharaoh centered around
figures were expressed ideally stylized rather than naturalistic form anatomical attributes
consisted heads legs were profile torsos arms very frontal vary prominent single parallel
lines also used line shoulders heads arms furthermore important figures always larger
than others hierarchic proportions formal poses finally women always painted white
while always amarna pharaoh akhenaten encouraged style more emotional peaceful
spiritual encouraged style true life expressive emotions second piece dionysus sailboat
came greek vase civilization characterized philosophy that free worthy individual their
portrayed style utter idealism utilitarianism pure aesthetic beauty while same time used
portray myths adorn their many gods third artistic culture chosen examine that romans
roman generally focused around utilitarian purposes while same time still embodied
power realism emotion philosophy stressed that determines destiny uniqueness among
people what makes them special distinct accurate historical overview individual been
created properly assess describe characteristics individual work first relationship found
within pieces they essence flat when looking daughters akhentan able artist this wall
painting made little effort creating sort depth true perspective figures characterized
playful gestures lack shading accurate proportions necessary create artistic factors
furthermore frontal poses single also lack depth painting because only half actual head
seen viewer attributes also found wine dionysus sailboat piece describes myth lacks depth
perspective main subject matter lacks shading perspective creates illusion dolphins very
flat unproportional boat lack seen sail ship grapes they lines shading essential looks
further line characteristic flatness seen fresco frieze villa mysteries utter previously
creates feeling giant flat plane where simply been stuck onto wall there insurmountable
lines tonal variation sort begins further examine with greater detail other relationships
become evident second relationship found existed between they characterized realism
very stylized work akhentan easily able human form proportion anatomical correctness
clearly visible awkward position legs hands torso shoulders frontal view well stylized
simplified eyes eyebrows limbs contribute paintings level realism same level evident
painting dolphins especially ship there little attention paid proportions over simplified
forms boat grapes vines dolphins make work similar look next frieze villa mysteries
made attempt steer away totally simplified forms begin bring some into although made
major step towards undoubtedly still visible hair detailed faces tone structure clothes
hang awkward manner view dimension final relationships discover three dealt with
utilitarianism uniform balance three paintings exhibit forms uniform balance create
feeling stability poise hand extending main creates sense left side right side balance
ameliorates overall look placement center surrounded perfect symmetry feeling uniform
stability looking sense similarly created using equally sized well balanced symmetry with
another looks closely fresco number used well symmetrically strategically placed create
sense foundation stability furthermore draw conclusion pieces serve more purpose than
conventional embody certain unique utilitarianism both painted walls served only
decorative purposes told stories myths depicts secret initiation rites classical world depict
family love pharaoh wine held utilitarian uses aesthetic ones simply decorative model
rather served preserve ancient myth just similarly does thus after having rigorously
thoroughly examined come conclusion there definite similarities relationships exist
between conclude greatly influenced other previous styles contents would originated
predecessors
Keywords General:
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