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