Module No. 2 - Ancient Greek Art
Focus on the appreciation of art from ancient Greece across various forms such as frescoes, pottery, sculpture, and architecture.
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.
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
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.
Bell Krater
Lebes
Skyphos
Aryballos
Hydria
Volute Krater
Kantharos
Psykter
Kylix
Stamnos
Alabastron
Oinochoe
Lekythos
Amphora
Description: Terracotta wine jug
Date: c. 900 BCE
Origin: Attica
Date: 800 BCE
Date: 650 BCE
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.
Characterization: Solid mass and frontal stance resembling Egyptian models but more dynamic.
Common Statues:
Kouros: Standing nude youth
Kore: Standing draped girl
Seated Woman
Kleobis and Biton
Date: 610-580 BCE
Moschophoros
Date: c. 570 BCE
Anavysos Kouros
Date: c. 525 BCE
Characteristics: Greater diversity in figures and poses; increased technical skill for more naturalistic art.
Notable Sculptors: Phidias, Praxiteles, Kritios, Lysippos, Myron.
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
Significance: Continuation and refinement of Greek artistic influence post-Alexander the Great.
Themes: More dramatized artistic subjects including suffering and emotional expressions.
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
Characteristics: Simplicity, proportion, perspective, and harmony in design.
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.
Pediment, Gable, Acroterion, Raking Cornice, Dentil, Entablature, Columns, and Orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian).
Parthenon
Reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Theatre of Delphi
Theatre of Epidaurus
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.
Parts: Theatron, Orchestra, Parodos, Skene.
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.
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.
Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides (tragedians)
Aristophanes (comedian)
Significance: First systematic study on drama, identifying elements of plot, character, thought, diction, music, and spectacle.
Mimesis: Imitation of reality
Hubris: Excessive pride
Hamartia: Tragic flaw
Anagnorisis: Recognition
Peripeteia: Reversal of fortune
Catharsis: Emotional purging in audience
Focus on the appreciation of art from ancient Greece across various forms such as frescoes, pottery, sculpture, and architecture.
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.
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
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.
Bell Krater
Lebes
Skyphos
Aryballos
Hydria
Volute Krater
Kantharos
Psykter
Kylix
Stamnos
Alabastron
Oinochoe
Lekythos
Amphora
Description: Terracotta wine jug
Date: c. 900 BCE
Origin: Attica
Date: 800 BCE
Date: 650 BCE
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.
Characterization: Solid mass and frontal stance resembling Egyptian models but more dynamic.
Common Statues:
Kouros: Standing nude youth
Kore: Standing draped girl
Seated Woman
Kleobis and Biton
Date: 610-580 BCE
Moschophoros
Date: c. 570 BCE
Anavysos Kouros
Date: c. 525 BCE
Characteristics: Greater diversity in figures and poses; increased technical skill for more naturalistic art.
Notable Sculptors: Phidias, Praxiteles, Kritios, Lysippos, Myron.
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
Significance: Continuation and refinement of Greek artistic influence post-Alexander the Great.
Themes: More dramatized artistic subjects including suffering and emotional expressions.
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
Characteristics: Simplicity, proportion, perspective, and harmony in design.
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.
Pediment, Gable, Acroterion, Raking Cornice, Dentil, Entablature, Columns, and Orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian).
Parthenon
Reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Theatre of Delphi
Theatre of Epidaurus
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.
Parts: Theatron, Orchestra, Parodos, Skene.
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.
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.
Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides (tragedians)
Aristophanes (comedian)
Significance: First systematic study on drama, identifying elements of plot, character, thought, diction, music, and spectacle.
Mimesis: Imitation of reality
Hubris: Excessive pride
Hamartia: Tragic flaw
Anagnorisis: Recognition
Peripeteia: Reversal of fortune
Catharsis: Emotional purging in audience