Download Greek Sculpture - Libertyville High School

Greek Art and Architecture
World History
Libertyville High School - 2010
Greek Sculpture
Periods of Greek Art
Archaic (1000 to
480 BC)
Classical (480
to 336 BC)
Hellenistic (336 BC
Forward)
Archaic Period

Characteristics


Stiff, formal poses
Lack of facial
expression
Classical Period
Tools from
Workshop
Of Phideas
Workshop of Phideas
•Greatest sculptor = Phideas, an Athenian
•Worked with wood, gold, ivory and bronze
•1958: at workshop, found cup engraved
With “I am the property of Phideas”
Famous Classical Sculptures
Venus de Milo
Hermes and Dionysus
“Faun” of Praxiteles
Characteristics: subjects were gods / goddesses; more relaxed poses; more
realistic nudes
Parthenon Sculptures



Phideas’ students sculpted marble
statues, decorations after his death
Considered world’s greatest ex. of
memorial sculpture
Currently located in British
Museum, displayed as “Elgin
Marbles” (stolen in 1816 while
ambassador to Ottoman Empire)
Artists’ rendition,
interior of
Parthenon
Hellenistic Period
Dying Gaul
Characteristics: pinnacle of Greek realism;
Human (not gods) were focus; vivid scenes;
drama, emotion ++
Laocoon
Hellenistic Period
Winged Victory (Nike)
The Discus Thrower
Fate of Greek Sculptures

Few survived the ages



Bronze sculptures melted
down for their metal
4th, 5th C. Christians
believed destroying pagan
statues was act of faith,
piety
Burning marble produced
lime, used during sieges
Greek Architecture
Architecture

Archaic architecture (1200-700 BC)




Built of wood, mud or brick
Nothing left except foundations
By 700 BC, populations large enough to
support public buildings
Granite & marble used for temples
Classical Architecture
Doric Column
Ionian Column
Corinthian
Column
Classical Architecture - Doric




Earliest style
Formal, austere
Spread from
Greece to Italy
Style



Columns tapered
No base to column
Plain tops
Classical Architecture - Ionian




More relaxed
style
Developed in
E. Greece,
colonies of
Asia Minor
Dominated
Hellenistic
period
Style


Straight, thin
column
Column had
base
•Standard to have 24
Flutes (grooves) in
each column
•Two curls to either
side of top
Classical Architecture - Corinthian


Developed by
Romans
Style



Much more
ornamental tops
(leaves, vines)
Ionian curls present
Flutes also present
Famous Greek Buildings
Lighthouse at Alexandria
 100-150 m tall; fire by
night, mirrors by day
 Earthquake, 14th C AD
Colossus at Rhodes
• At mouth of harbor
• Stood for 54 years before
earthquake knocked it down
Famous Greek Buildings
Statue of Zeus at Olympus
 Earthquake destroyed
temple
 Statue taken to
Constantinople
 Burned in riot
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
• Built high in mountains w/ temple
rising into clouds
• 425 feet long, 225 feet wide
• 127 columns, 60 feet tall
• Destroyed in 262 AD by invading
Goths
Parthenon
• Built over older temple, around
480 BC (original destroyed when
Persians occupied Athens)
• Built from 447 to 431 BC
• Constructed from limestone,
marble
• Considered the finest example of
Doric architecture in its day
• Turned into a Christian church in
6th C. AD
• Then turned into a mosque in
early 1460s
• Destroyed in 1687 during siege
Parthenon (Athens)
Destruction of Parthenon, 1687 (newspaper sketch, 19th C.)