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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: Essay, essays, termpaper, term paper, termpapers, term papers, book reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, test answers, free research, book research, study help, download essay, download term 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