ART 201, HANDOUT 5, EARLY GREEK ART

Geometric Age: the period c. 900-700 BCE, when Greek art was dominated by geometric motifs primarily on painted pottery. Around 800 BCE geometricized figural scenes appear (Funerary krater, c. 740 BCE), generally illustrating funerals. By around 750-700 BCE Greek artists were trying to depict scenes of myth (Centaur and Man, c. 750 BCE), but the limitations of the Geometric style hampers our ability to recognize the scenes.

Greek vase shapes: a large bowl for mixing wine and water at male drinking parties is a krater. A two handled storage vessel (wine, water, olive oil, grain) is an amphora, a one handle, narrow necked pitcher for bath oils is called a lekythos. In the Geometric period, when large vases are used as grave markers, a man’s grave had a krater, a woman’s an amphora.

The Orientalizing Period: the 7th century BCE, when Greek art adapted many motifs and techniques learned from the ancient Near East and Egypt to Greek usage. Artistic leaders in this century were the artists of Corinth, who invented the black-figured technique for painting pottery c. 675 BCE, and whose vases generally are decorated with multiple friezes of animals (amphora, c. 600 BCE) The Corinthians exported many vases to Italy, where the people (especially the Eturscans) collected them eagerly. Sculpture in the seventh century was conceptual in style, that is, they have abstracted anatomical forms; the men are often nude (Mantiklos’ Apollo, c. 680 BCE), the women clothed (Lady of Auxerre, c. 625 BCE).

The Archaic Age: the 6th century BCE and down to the end of the Persian Wars in 480 BCE. A period when the city-states characteristic of Greek society develop their characteristic political forms, the oligarchy (rule of the wealthy few), and the democracy (rule of the people).

Black-figured technique: the vase painter drew the figures in silhouette with the black gloss (lustrous slip-often called “glaze”). Details were then incised through the gloss with a graver. Most notable artists were Athenians during the mid-6th century BCE, especially Exekias (Achilles and Ajax Play Dice, c. 540 BCE) and Kleitias and Ergotimos (Francois Vase/Krater, c. 570 BCE). The black-figured technique was superceded by as a leading artistic technique red-figured after c. 520 BCE: few “bilingual” vases show the transition

Red-figured technique: the reverse of black-figured. Figures were outlined on the red ground (surface) of the vase in black gloss with a brush, and the internal details of figures also drawn with a brush. Artists were able to depict more 3-D poses and details of the anatomy with this technique. For example, the gloss could be diluted to create less visible lines, and used to model a figure’s three-dimensionality. Developed ca. 530 BCE, with the finest work done c. 515-490 (Euphronios, "Herkales wrestles Antaeus,” c. 510 BCE; Euthymides “Three Dancing Drunks” c. 510 B CE), and declined as an art medium after c. 480 BCE, although red-figure continued into the 4th century BCE.

Kore: a statue of a clothed young woman. Early korai stand still and their bodies tend to look columnar (Lady of Auxerre, c. 625 BCE; Peplos kore, c. 530 BCE.). Later korai lift their skirts with their left hands and daintily stride (Kore from Chios, c. 520 BCE). They probably mainly depict priestessesand are found in sanctuaries (and hence commemorate a woman’s service to religion), although some were used on graves. The type could be used to depict a goddess, and it is clear that, when a kore “depicted” a human, the “portrait” was not realistic.

Kouros: a statue of a nude young man, which during the Archaic Age stride forward and look straight ahead of themselves. The stauary type was borrowed from Egyptian sculpture in the late 7th century BCE, but immediately adapted to reflect the values of Greek culture. Beginning around 600 BCE (New York Kouros) the anatomy of the type was constantly improved on until it was correct (c. 500 BCE), although the pose remained unnaturally stiff and frontal. The Kroisos Kouros (c. 530

BCE) shows nearly correct anatomy in a funerary statue of a young warrior who died in battle. Again, these were not portraits in our sense, but, like the korai, showed an ideal image of a type of human being.

ART 201, HANDOUT 6, GREEK ARCHITECTURE

The GreekTemple: a simple form of religious architecture which derived its monumentality from its architectural decorative systems (Doric or Ionic orders). Geometric temples (9th-8th centuries BCE) were small wooden structures that survive only in the form of small ceramic models of buildings, but those consistently take the form of a single room for a cult statue and a front porch supported by two columns. This basic format, which resembles the earlier megaron of Mycenaean

palaces, then was embellished in the seventh century BCE in some centers by the addition of a wooden colonnade (Greek=peristyle) around the whole building. Greek religious ceremonies took place in front of the temple at an open-air altar, and the temple served to hold an image (statue) of the god, that the god could occupy to watch the ceremonies. By 600 BCE, probably influenced by memories of Egyptian temples some Greeks had seen, major temples were being built in stone. The larger Greek temples had a colonnade surrounding the actual sanctuary, which consisted of a rectangular room (cella) containing a cult statue of the god, fronted by an an open porch which allowed the statue to gaze out at an altar in front of the temple where the actual religiuos ceremonies took place. Greek temples often had an open porch in back of the cella which was not connected to it by a door. This room was used for the storage of precious dedications to the god. It is important to remember that only large temples had columns around their central cult buildings; small temples continued to take the original form of the temple, that is a simple cult room with a two columned porch, like the Temple of Athena Nike in Athens, 420s BCE.

The Doric Order: an austere and geometrically ordered style of architecture developed on the Greek mainland and in the colonies in Italy. Characteristic is the simple, blocky capital, and the triglyph and metope frieze (Temple of Hera I, Paestum, 550 BCE, Temple of Aphaia, Aegina, c. 500-480 BCE).

The Ionic Order: a more ornate and decorative style of architecture most common in the Greek islands and the Greek cities on the coast of Asia Minor. The columns stood on bases and had capitals with volutes (spirals) and other carved ornament. Smaller Ionic temples (Temple of Athena Nike, Athens, 420s BCE) and Treasuries at great sanctuaries (Treasury of the Siphnians, Delphi, c. 530 BCE) often had sculpted friezes. The latter also had statues of priestesses in place its columns.

Pedimental Sculpture: stone sculpture was placed in the triangular area of a Greek temple defined by the cornices. Beginning c. 580 BCE with the high relief group on the Temple of Artemis at Korfu, which shows three scenes in differing scales (notably the great central figure of Medusa famed by panthers), the Greek artists gradually developed unified compositions that fit the triangular space. The East Pediment of the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina (c. 480 BCE) shows a unified battle scene with all the figures in the same scale, and also shows an interest in depicting pain realistically (Dying Warrior). On the Temple of Zeus at Olympia (c. 460 BCE), the East Pediment showed the beginning of a chariot race between Pelops and the evil king Oinomaus (at Olympia) which would have consequences for generations of Pelops’ descendents. The figures are all to one scale, and cunningly arranged to fit in the triangular space, and subtly predict the awful consequences of the race (Old Seer), which poses the question of God’s plan for humans and their actions.

The Battle of Gods and Giants: the Gods defeat an attack by the evil Giants; becomes an allegory for the triumph of Good over Evil. The Siphnian Treasury at Delphi (c. 530 BCE) included a relief frieze depicting the Battle of Gods and Giants. The figures on this show an interest in three-dimensional poses, although, like all Greek friezes, the action takes place in a limited space.

Athena: virgin goddess of wisdom and crafts, patroness of heroes and the city of Athens.

The Parthenon, Athens: a large Doric temple built on the Acropolis (citadel) of Athens 447-432 BCE, and dedicated to Athena the Virgin. Designed by the architects Iktinos and Kallikrates, it had many "visual refinements" or deviations from strict rectangularity (such as cigar-shaped columns which lean in slightly, bowed top of foundations etc.) to give the temple an appearance of organic

life. The Parthenon also has an Ionic frieze running around the top of the exterior of the building

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inside the colonnade. This depicts an ideal rendering of a parade which took place each year in

honor of Athena, and forms part of the sculptural program of the Parthenon, which was designed by Phidias. This sculptural program is the most complete and finest expression of the noble idealism of the High Classical Age (c. 450-400 BCE), and can be seen in on the frieze (Horsemen), and the pedimental sculpture (Three Goddesses).

The Propylaea, Athens: a monumental gateway to the Athenian Acropolis built by Mnesikles 437-432 BCE. It has Doric facades akin to those of Greek temples, but the columns in the passageway are Ionic. On its north side, by the entrance to the Acropolis, was a room used as a picture gallery, the world's first art museum.

The Erechtheion, Athens: an Ionic temple of odd form due to the multiple gods worshipped in it. Built c. 421-405 BCE, it is notable for its exquisitely carved ornament, and Porch of the Maidens, which uses statues of priestesses in place of columns.

The Corinthian Order: developed ca. 400 BC, distinguished from Ionic by its use of a capital or top of the column which features vegetation and flowers (Capital, Epidaurus, c. 350 BCE); otherwise uses the same decorative system as Ionic. Not used extensively by the Greeks, and mainly for ornate, often round, buildings (Tholos at Delphi, c. 375 BCE) or interiors, more popular in later Roman architecture. The LysikratesMonument in Athens (336 BCE) was a piece of architectural sculpture, rather than a true building.

Greek Theaters: built into the natural slopes of hillsides, monumental theaters such as the Theater at Epidaurus (c. 350 BCE), which appeared in Greek cities after 400 BCE illustrate the generally out-of-doors nature of ancient Greek life and their disinterest in interior spaces in architecture. Like all Greek architecture, theaters were simple structures with stone seats in tiers on the hillside arranged around a circular dance floor (orchestra) backed by a scene building.

The Stoa: a long rectangular building with an open, columned front often found in the Agora, or marketplace of a Greek city. Often served a s market. The Stoa of Attalos, named after a king of Pergamon who gave it to the Athenians, has been reconstructed in the Agora in Athens (c. 150 BCE). A philosophical school met in one of the stoas in Athens in the third century BCE, and its followers became known as “Stoics.”

GreekTown Planning: Greek cities were laid out on a rectangular grid (as much as possible), with fixed lot sizes and a central marketplace, precincts for temples and theatres, all surrounded by houses. Recreational structures such as gymnasia were usually on the edge of town. Priene in Asia Minor was refounded around 350 BCE, and provides a good picture of a Greek city.

ART 201, HANDOUT 7, CLASSICAL GREEK ART OF THE 5TH CENTURY BCE

The Severe Style: a descriptive term for the sculpture of the Early Classical Age (c. 480-450 BCE), when statues had serious, almost pouting expressions, and very heavy, doughy drapery . Kritios' Boy (c. 480 BCE) shows the beginning of Classical art, and already has the contrapposto stance which distinguishes Classical statues from the earlier works of the Archaic Age. This new pose is further refined in the Riace Warrior of ca. 450 BCE. The Delphi Charioteer of c. 475 BCE shows the new drapery. Early Classical sculpture also shows the human body in new action poses, as seen in the sculpture from the west pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia (c. 460 BCE). At times, although believable, these action poses prove on close analysis to be exaggerated (Discus Thrower by Myron, c. 450 BCE).

The Niobid Painter: Athenian Red-figure painter of the middle of the 5th century BCE. His “name-vase” shows Apollo and Artemis slaughtering the children of Niobe (who had insulted the gods’ mother)-this shows a new attempt to render three-dimensional space that reflects the influence of monumental painting.

Herakles: muscular Greek hero whose deeds illustrated man's ability to control his environment. Especially important after 550 B.C. Considered to have become a god through the greatness of his deeds (Metope from ZeusTemple showing Herakles receiving the Apples of the Hesperides, Olympia, ca. 465 BCE). On the negative side, overfond of wine and oversexed; had many descendents.

The Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs: one of the Greek myths that became an allegory for the triumph of civilization over savagery. Centaurs were half-horse, half-men who came to the wedding feast of the King of the Lapiths, got drunk, groped the Lapith women and were exterminated by the Lapiths for their misbehavior (Parthenon metope, c. 445 BCE).

Spearbearer of Polykleitos: preserved only in Roman copies, this important High Classical statue (c. 450-440 BCE) was also called the "Canon", because its proportions set a standard for nude male statues for the next century. This demonstrates the curious fact that the naturalistic and ideal statues of the Classical Age were constructed from mathematical ratios rather than from observation of real humans. Original statue was bronze.

The Rich Style: an odd and artificial style in Greek sculpture c. 425-375 BCE. The Rich Style was characterized by a rich patterning of folds which lie tight over the female body. At times the ladies seem to be wearing wet T-shirts (Sandalbinder from the Nike Temple Balustrade, c. 410 BCE), in other examples the style comes closer to that of the Parthenon pediments, the point of origin for the Rich Style (i.e. the Porch of the Maidens, Erechtheum, c. 420 BCE). The gravestone of Hegeso (c. 400 BCE) from Athens uses Rich Style qualities in its depiction of a woman examining her jewelry.

White Ground: a technique of painting pottery (Infant Dionysos Given to the Nymphs, c. 440 BCE) that creates polychrome images close to monumental painting (Tomb of the Diver, Paestum, c. 480 BCE). Often in Athens used on lekythoi, a type of oil vase frequently used as a burial gift in 5th century BCE. Athens. Figures were painted on a chalky white surface in pastel colors; the figures are noble, and the compositions are alluringly natural.

Greek portraits: the Greeks strove to present the true essence (ie psychology) of the individual in a portrait, rather than a true-to-life image. Although portraits are known in the Greek world from the 5th century BCE (Perikles, c. 430 BCE), they became increasingly more important after 400 BCE, as individuals became more important in Greek life. Greek portraits are always ideal, such as the heroic and handsome images of Alexander the Great, or the tormented image of the Athenian statesman Demosthenes, who unsuccessfully opposed the Macedonian conquest of Greece. Demosthenes’ portrait of c. 278 BCE survives in Roman copies; typically, it was created 45 years after he died by a sculptor who probably never saw D. Portraits were intended to provide lessons for behavior (Demosthenes thus was a sort of “Profile in Courage” advocating resistance to oppression). The images of the deceased on Attic tombstones (Hegeso, c. 400; Young Man, c. 340) are always ideal, and hence difficult to see as true images of individuals.

ART 201, HANDOUT 8, LATE CLASSICAL (4th CENTURY BCE) AND HELLENISTIC ART

Praxiteles: Athenian sculptor active ca. 370-320 BCE. His most famous work, the Aphrodite of Knidos (c. 360 BCE), was the first nude image of the goddess of love and beauty; it survives only in Roman copies. Another work, the Hermes and the infant Dionysos (c. 330-270 BCE), is probably by a pupil of Praxiteles, but shows the master's graceful and languid style. It presents a natural human interaction between a youth and a baby, although both are supposed to be divine.

Lysippus: bronze sculptor of the second half of the 4th century BCE who established a new, slimmer set of proportions for the ideal male form. His Apoxyomenos (Athlete Scraping Himself, c. 330 BCE) shows these new proportions, which replaced those established by the Spearbearer of Polykleitos. He also created famous portraits of Alexander the Great, that may survive in diluted form in copies (Head of Alexander, 3rd BCE)