FAH313 - WEEK 7 - Love, sex, war, and robots

Title: The Death of Talos

Date: ca. 425-400 BCE

Location: Necropolis of Ruvo in Apulia

Description of art:

• volute krater

  • handles = volutes

  • decorated with grape leaves

• red figure

• designed using “The Rich Style”

  • crowded = lots of art filling space

  • shading = to show volume

  • perspective art = Talos’ right foot looks shorter = pointing out towards viewer

• Central scene = on body/belly of Krater

  • Talos being emptied of his ichor

  • Talos = white paint = distinguish him as made of bronze from other characters

• Nucleus = Talos losing ichor

  • Twins Polydeukes + Kastor catching Talos

  • sailors on the Argo

• informants

  • poseidon + Amphitrite

    • scene occurs by the sea

  • bottom right Crete or Europa being trampled = island/location of scene

  • Medea on the left

    • wearing Persian clothes = foreign to Greek world

    • phrygian cap

    • potion bag

  • Far left = the ship ARGO

• Upper register = satyrs and other index characters

Title: Aphrodite of Knidos

Date: ca. 350 BCE

Artist: Praxiteles

Description of art:

• Pudica pose = for male gaze

  • naked but covering pubic area

• Praxitelean S-curve

• Modelled after the lover of Praxitiles (Phryne, the Courtesan)

• Moment in between = Toilette scene

  • will she grab her clothes to cover herself or reveal more?

significance:

• Toilette scene = how she presents herself to her lovers (Anchises, Adonis, Ares)

Title: Eros at Thespiae

Date: ca. 350 BCE

Artist: Praxiteles

Description of art:

• Sfumato male musculature

  • less defined muscles, more lean

  • accentuates emotional power over physical

• wings

• exaggerated contrapposto

• Praxitelean S-curve

• long curly hair

• holding quiver

• right arm out = exposing himself

• inscription on base of sculpture

Significance:

• poem written on base = first person

• as if Eros speaking = Talking statue

• Eros is modeled after the love that Praxiteles felt for Phryne

• while you look at Eros, he is looking at you

  • shooting you glances instead of arrows

Title: The Abandoned Ariadne Fresco

Date: ca. ca. 79 CE

Medium: Painted plaster

Location: Pompeii

Description of art:

• location of scene = Nacsoos

• Ariadne on ground

• Winged sleep/rumour pointing to top left corner = Theseus’ ship sailing away

  • abandoned Ariadne

• NUCLEUS = Eros crying

  • little kid

  • right arm over the eyes = crying for Ariadne and the loss of her lover Theseus

Title: Venus, Mars, and Cupid Group

Date: ca. 150 CE

Location: Rome

Description of art:

• Concordia group

  • Mother + father + son

  • represent roman ideals

• Ares = MARS

  • contrapposto —> similar to Doryphoros

    • looking in same direction

    • youthful, strong, warrior

  • helmet + shield + Gladius

  • standing straight and tall

• Aphrodite = VENUS

  • supplication pose

  • want to stop Ares from going to war

  • similar to: Aphrodite of Melos

    • drapery stops at hips

    • similar lift in shoulders

    • S-curve

• Eros = CUPID

  • presence = meaning it’s an erotic scene

significance:

• Roman Pastiche

  • takes early greek models = for new narrative based on familiar art/concepts

• Venus + Mars = Tutelary gods

  • important for Rome + Roman empire

  • guardians of Rome

  • Venus = Aenas = Founder of Site of Rome

  • Mars = Remus + Romulus = Founders of city of Rome

Title: Venus reclines on Mars Fresco

Date: ca. 79 CE

Location: Pompeii

Description of art:

• Venus reclining in Mars’ lap

  • right arm above her head

  • Anakalypsis = Formal Unveiling

  • Mars unveils her instead (holding mantle)

  • wearing jewlery + Catena (body chain)

    • Made by Hephaistos for her

• Eros holding sword of Mars

• Another Eros putting on his helmet

• Mars not at war = shield + spear are down

• Sexual innuendo

  • Aphrodite holding his shaft

• Nucleus = Aphrodite nudity

  • being objectified by male gazes

  • third viewer = US

  • Aphrodite wants to be nude = wants attention and to be observed