Humanities- Sculpture

Ancient Egyptian

3 Dynasties

• Old, Middle, New

Pharoahs- rulers of ancient Egypt who were considered divine and played a crucial role in the culture, religion, and governance of the civilization

Scribes- officials responsible for writing and record-keeping, often highly educated and respected within society.

Akhenaten- worshipped only the sun god Aten,destroyed all other temples, destroyed economy

Ancient Greek Archaic 1

• Greek Sculptures were often painted

• Greeks believed “man is the measure of all things in the universe”

Kouros

• rigid stance, with left leg forward, arms at side

• derived from Ancient Egyptian Art

Kore

• Archaic Smile

• painted

Ancient Greek Classical/Hellenic/Ionic 2

Kritios Boy

• Contrapposto

  • shifting of the weight at the hips, weight-bearing leg is apart from free leg,

Aphrodite by Praxitilies

• Contrapposto-

• Praxitilian Curve/S Curve

  • shifting the weight of the upper body to counteract the contrapposto

Discus Thrower

• Praxitilian Curve

• is a famous example of Classical Greek sculpture, representing a young athlete in a relaxed pose

Zeus throwing Lightning Bolt

• a notable example of Classical Greek sculpture, showcasing the transition to more naturalistic forms and the use of contrapposto for dynamic poses. This period emphasized realism and the idealized human form

Ancient Greek Hellenistic/Corithian 3

Laocoon and his sons

• is a dramatic sculpture depicting the Trojan priest Laocoon and his sons being attacked by sea serpents. This work exemplifies the emotional intensity and intricate details characteristic of Hellenistic art

Nike of Samothrase

• a monumental sculpture of the winged goddess of victory, showcasing dynamic movement and a sense of triumph. It embodies the Hellenistic focus on realism and expressive poses

Old Woman, Goose Boy

• Genre Art

  • Everyday people doing everyday things

Dying Gaul

• a poignant sculpture representing a wounded Gallic warrior, symbolizing bravery and the struggles of defeated foes. This work illustrates the Hellenistic emphasis on realism and emotional expression

General Charateristics of Authentic Traditional African Art

• All items must qualify by being made under the following conditions

1. Must use traditional/locally found materials

2. Must use traditional patterns/dyes/colors

3. Must use traditional hand tools

4. Must be made in the traditional geographic location

5. Must be made by traditional crafts people

6. Must be made for traditional use

African Art Primarily

1. African Art has a practical/functional purpose first, then aesthetics

2. It is more orientated on a vertical plane

3. It is more often to be seen from 180 degrees

4. It is not an exact representation, it can be abstract

5. Art is allowed to be interpreted by the artist and the viewer

6. African culture is related to nature, religion, spiritual world

7. Can be used for both public and private ceremonies

• Sculpture may be painted

Examples of West African Sculptures

Dolls

• Fertility, Mother, Earth

Masques

• May be decorated with beads, shells, grass, fur, paint

Drums

• Considered to be female in spirit

Colons

• Carved African representations of Colonial Europeans

Additional Notes

• A sculpture has literal mass, takes up 3-D space, and its materials have density

• Methods of Execution

  • Subtraction

    • Large block where sculptor subtracts unwanted material

  • Substitution

    • Transfroms material from a liquid state into a solid state

  • Manipulation

    • Requires pliable materials in which the artist shapes by skillful use of the hands or tools into a final form

• Ephemeral

  • A work designed to only last a short time

• High Relief

  • In Sculpture, relief works in which the figures protrude from the back ground

• Elements

  • Line, Form, Color,Mass, Texture