Module No. 2 - Ancient Greek Art

Introduction to Ancient Greek Art

  • Focus on the appreciation of art from ancient Greece across various forms such as frescoes, pottery, sculpture, and architecture.

Frescoes

  • Definition: Painting of color pigments on wet lime plaster without a binding agent.

  • Process: When the paint is absorbed by the plaster, it becomes fixed and protected from fading.

  • Content: Typically depict scenes from everyday life.

  • Fragility: Frescoes are delicate and often get destroyed when removed from their original sites.

Key Examples of Frescoes

  • Minoan Dolphin Fresco

    • Location: Knossos, Crete

    • Date: 1700-1450 BCE

  • Minoan Bull-leaping Fresco

    • Location: Knossos, Crete

    • Date: 1450-1400 BCE

  • Minoan Griffin Fresco

    • Location: Knossos

    • Date: 1700-1450 BCE

Pottery

  • Historical Significance: Prominent from 1000 BCE to 400 BCE.

  • Functionality: Vases were crafted for everyday use; vital in domestic life and rituals.

  • Collaboration: Painters worked alongside potters to create functional art.

  • Types of Pottery:

    • Amphorae: Used for storing wine.

    • Kraters: Large vessels for mixing wine with water.

    • Jug: For pouring wine.

    • Kylixes: Stemmed cups with horizontal handles for drinking.

    • Hydria: Three-handled water jug.

    • Skyphoi: Deep bowls.

    • Lekythoi: Jars for oils and perfumes.

Notable Pottery Types

  • Bell Krater

  • Lebes

  • Skyphos

  • Aryballos

  • Hydria

  • Volute Krater

  • Kantharos

  • Psykter

  • Kylix

  • Stamnos

  • Alabastron

  • Oinochoe

  • Lekythos

  • Amphora

Terracotta Oinochoe

  • Description: Terracotta wine jug

  • Date: c. 900 BCE

Geometric Style Krater

  • Origin: Attica

  • Date: 800 BCE

Proto-Corinthian Aryballos

  • Date: 650 BCE

Sculpture in Ancient Greece

  • Cultural Influence: Mixture of Egyptian, Syrian, Minoan, Mycenaean, and Persian cultures.

  • Sculpting Techniques: Learned from Egyptians and Syrians.

  • Periods of Development:

    • Archaic Period (c.650-500 BCE): Monumental marble sculptures emerge.

    • Classical Period (c.500-323 BCE): Height of creativity in Greek sculpture.

    • Hellenistic Period (c.323-27 BCE): Greek style of 3-D art spreads across the Eastern Mediterranean.

Archaic Period Sculpture

  • Characterization: Solid mass and frontal stance resembling Egyptian models but more dynamic.

  • Common Statues:

    • Kouros: Standing nude youth

    • Kore: Standing draped girl

    • Seated Woman

Notable Archaic Sculptures

  • Kleobis and Biton

    • Date: 610-580 BCE

  • Moschophoros

    • Date: c. 570 BCE

  • Anavysos Kouros

    • Date: c. 525 BCE

Classical Period Sculpture

  • Characteristics: Greater diversity in figures and poses; increased technical skill for more naturalistic art.

  • Notable Sculptors: Phidias, Praxiteles, Kritios, Lysippos, Myron.

Notable Classical Sculptures

  • Aphrodite of Knidos

    • Date: c. 350 BCE

  • Discobolus (Discus Thrower)

    • Date: 460-50 BCE

  • The Artemision Bronze

    • Date: c. 460 BCE

  • Zeus at Olympia

    • Date: C 435 BCE

Hellenistic Period Sculpture

  • Significance: Continuation and refinement of Greek artistic influence post-Alexander the Great.

  • Themes: More dramatized artistic subjects including suffering and emotional expressions.

Notable Hellenistic Sculptures

  • Winged Victory of Samothrace

    • Date: 220-190 BCE

  • Aphrodite, Pan and Eros

    • Date: c. 100 BCE

  • Venus de Milo (Aphrodite of Melos)

    • Date: c. 100 BCE

  • Laocoon and his Sons

    • Date: 42-20 BCE

Architecture in Ancient Greece

  • Characteristics: Simplicity, proportion, perspective, and harmony in design.

Major Orders of Greek Architecture

  • Doric Order:

    • Earliest order characterized by plain capitals and sturdy proportions.

    • Features triglyphs and metopes in the frieze.

  • Ionic Order:

    • Known for volutes and a more slender profile.

  • Corinthian Order:

    • Elaborate capitals with acanthus leaves.

Architectural Terms

  • Pediment, Gable, Acroterion, Raking Cornice, Dentil, Entablature, Columns, and Orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian).

Major Architectural Structures

  • Parthenon

  • Reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

  • Theatre of Delphi

  • Theatre of Epidaurus

Greek Theatre

  • Cultural Context: The cult of Dionysus was central, with festivals celebrating his influence on community.

  • Theatrical Festivals: Included Rural Dionysia, Lenaia, Anthesteria, City Dionysia.

  • Historically Notable: First actor, Thespis, introduced individual performance in the 6th century BCE.

Components of Greek Theatre

  • Parts: Theatron, Orchestra, Parodos, Skene.

Performers and Production in Theatre

  • Participants: All performers were male, integral to the performance art.

  • Use of Masks: Essential for expression, featuring caricatured forms for comedies and standard expressions for tragedies.

  • Costumes: Varied between tragedy and comedy; included tunics and daily wear.

Plays and Playwrights

  • Surviving Works: Only 44 plays remain from the classical period, authored by significant playwrights.

  • Tragedy and Comedy: Not all tragedies conclude tragically; comedies were bold critiques of society.

Notable Playwrights**

  • Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides (tragedians)

  • Aristophanes (comedian)

Aristotle’s Poetics

  • Significance: First systematic study on drama, identifying elements of plot, character, thought, diction, music, and spectacle.

Key Terms from Aristotle's Poetics

  • Mimesis: Imitation of reality

  • Hubris: Excessive pride

  • Hamartia: Tragic flaw

  • Anagnorisis: Recognition

  • Peripeteia: Reversal of fortune

  • Catharsis: Emotional purging in audience