Greek art and Archaeology Final (weeks 7+)

Kritios boy

480 BCE

Acropolis

youth - beardless, young hair rolled up

right leg relaxed, weight on back leg

contrapposto - weight uneven on feet, affects rest of body pose

head turned breaking symmetry of previous archaic styles

anatomy, moves away from pouch style abs, see muscles ribs and pelvis

pouty lips and strong jaw, severe stoic expression

found in perserschutt but not all pre-persian, stylistically looks later than 480, no distinct division of style

Euthydikos Kore

490-480 BCE

Athenian acropolis

severe expression

the Tyrannicides

roman copy of bronze original

Athenian agora

Original: antenor, c. 509 BCE

Rep: Kritios and Nesiotis c. 477 BCE

original stolen in 480 BCE in persian invasion

First time that contemporary figures are immortalised.

development of posing and expression, experimenting with the lunging movement: arm raised and outstretched

poses used as heroic identifier in art going forwards

Original brought back to athens by Alexander in 330 BCE after his invasion of persia. Stood alongside replacement, seen by pausanias in 2nd cen AD, stood for a long time after construction

important in development of movement

Artemision god

460-450 BCE

cape artemisium

god figure, likely either zeus or poseidon (either throwing lightning bolt or trident)

over lifesize, 2m+

found underwater, as bronze usually melted down

eyes and details inlaid: lips nipples in copper, silver eyebrows

hollowcast bronze - clay model (easier and more flexible sculpting)

cast in parts and assembled after

fine details chiseled in

polished at end

posing:

hollow cast bronze light, easy overhangs (arms outstretched)

weight distribution and balance

early classical style: arms outstretched, body twisted in motion, head towards action and not viewer

heavy chin and jaw

long hair, unusual for adult mature figure

temple of zeus at olympia

470-456 BCE

Architect: Libon of Elis

Doric peripteral 6×13 (2x +1, 5th cent rule)

limestone with parian marble roof and sculpture

East pediment: Peplos and Oinomaos, moment of calm before disaster, like suicide of ajax

Zeus in middle, flanked by Peplos and Oinomaos (both armed)

sterope and hippodameia beside them, followed by charriot teams

seer, can forsee disaster with his worried expression

West pediment

470-456

battle between lapiths and centaurs

apollo in centre

king of lapith peirithoos and theseus each side

first myth in stone

coliflour ear and athletic poses

note faces - barbarity of the centaur faces vs severity and temperate heroes

dynamic and interlocked posing

¾ profile

anatomy and musculature

detailed barbaric facial expressions

labours of heracles

470-456

note 3

1 heracles cleaning out the augean stables

2 heracles and cretan bull

3 holding up heavens for atlas to fetch the golden apple