Ancient Greece is a civilization that is best known for its cultural and artistic influence on future civilizations and periods such as Roman and Renaissance art. The development of Greek Art is shown throughout the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. Being able to see numerous works of art during these time periods increased my understanding of the development of Greek Art.
The Archaic period of Greek art lasted from about 700-480 BCE. During this time, art was mainly focused on sculptures and ceramics made to adorn temples and funerary monuments, both freestanding and in relief. Many of the statues were inspired by stone sculpture of Egypt. One of the most famous pair of statues created during this time period was the Cleobis and Biton figures. These statues follow the Kouros formula, which appears several times throughout the Archaic period. The two figures are brothers from Greek mythology who are best known for pulling their mother, Cydippe, in her cart for a festival honoring the goddess Hera. Impressed by their devotion to their mother and her goddess, they were given the gift of death, the best gift a god could give to a mortal. Inscriptions of their names at the base of the statues identify them. The figures are massive and muscular, representing the virtues of masculine strength and piety. They are posed in the traditional Kouros pose: frontal, left foot extended forward, arms attached to their sides, very rigid. The stoic representation of the figures was a result of the attention to mythological rather than physical portrayals. This same technique can be seen in another statue from the Archaic period, Sounion Kouros. Another statue with the Kouros formula, it portrays a young male, frontal facing with his left leg slightly forward. The statue looks very rigid and his face is blank and void of emotion, much like the Cleobis and Biton figures. Upon viewing this sculpture, it is very evident its similarity to Egyptian statues. During this time period, there was more focus on the sculptural body as a geometric form to represent a theoretical being, rather than a lifelike statue which we will see in later time periods. Both the Cleobis and Biton and the Sounion Kouros statues follow the strict kouros formula that was best known during the Archaic period.
From 480-323 BCE was the Classical period of Greek art. This time period is best known for its development in style and function of sculpture. Statue poses became more naturalistic than the rigid figures in the Archaic period. Poses of figures became much more varied, and statues began to depict real people rather than mythological. One of the most famous statues from the Classical period is the Charioteer of Delphi. The statue was erected at Delphi in 474 BC, to commemorate the victory of a chariot team in the Pythian Games, held to honor Apollo. The statue is almost fully intact, except for his left arm, which is missing. It is one of few Greek bronzes to retain its inlaid glass eyes and copper detailing of its eyelashes and lips. This feature makes the statue even more intriguing upon viewing. The figure is much more naturalistic than that of the Kouroi of the Archaic period. His head is turned slightly towards one side, his feet much more relaxed, and his expression is one of controlled emotion. Another famous bronze statue from the Classical period is Zeus of Artemision. This figure is most commonly known to represent Zeus, but can also be interpreted as a representation of Poseidon. His right hand is raised while his left hand is extended, appearing to hold a missing thunderbolt. Much like the Chariot of Delphi, Zeus’ expression is one of controlled emotion. His body is less rigid as he is posed almost in a profile view, with his head turned to the left and his body facing somewhat frontal. The figure is frozen right before a release of strength and action. Both the figure of Zeus and the figure of the Charioteer provide great examples of the developments of Greek art during the Classical period, specifically its growth towards more naturalism in sculpture.
The Hellenistic period of Greek art lasted from 323-146 BCE. This time period developed the ideals of the Classical period even further with striking poses and more developed emotion of its sculpture. Many works during this time period were described as “in-the-round”, meaning that they could be admired from any angle. This is drastically different from the frontality used back in the Archaic period. Every inch of the body in a sculpture was detailed from muscles to draping fabric to delicate facial features. One of the best examples of Hellenistic art is Aphrodite Eros and Pan. This sculptural group shows a nude Aphrodite being accosted by Pan, and she proceeds to swing her slipper at him in an effort to keep him at a distance. It is unclear whether or not Eros is helping defend Aphrodite, or is encouraging Pan, as he grabs Pan’s horn. This sculpture is showing the emergence of more detailed figures and dramatic subjects in Greek art. You can see the emotion within the figures faces, as well as the struggle within their bodies. Pieces like these are what influenced later works of the Renaissance. Another work from the Hellenistic period is Boy Jokey. The movement in the piece is undeniable. The statue depicts a young man riding a horse in mid-leap. The action of the horse almost mid-air gives the viewer an amazing depiction of the force and energy of the figure. The sculpture is extremely dramatic, as the piece seems as though it almost leaps out at you. The physical and emotional movement within the Boy Jokey piece and Aphrodite Eros and Pan, accurately portray the development of emotion and drama in Greek art during the Hellenistic period.
From the Archaic, to the Classical and Hellenistic periods, Greek Art as a whole is a sight to be seen. In my travels this past summer to both Italy and Greece, I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit many museums that house the greatest artwork of the ancient world. The Archaic Kouros statues, the Classical bronze sculptures, and the Hellenstic dramatic figures were all amazing to see in person. Seeing these pieces in real life helped me understand them more than I would have if I just read about them in textbooks. It was also interesting to learn about the development of Greek art over several time periods. Visiting the Vatican Museums in Rome also gave me a sense of how the development of Greek art influenced the culture and art of the Renaissance. Formulas and techniques developed in the ancient Greek civilization were reitterated throughout the entire Vatican Museum and its work housed there. Many ideals that we even still have today were influenced by the ancient Greeks. The work of the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods paved the way for many civilizations to come, including ours today.
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