MINOAN ARTPaintings, Sculpture, Metalwork
Bull Rhyton, Palace of Knossos, 1500 BC
Minoan Art• Introduction:
– Minoan art reveals much about that society:• Joyous people• In touch with their environment/nature• In awe of movement
– Minoan art is fluid– Minoan art was produced for its beauty rather than
function.• Most art had a political or religious function. So did Minoan to
an extent. But, lots of their art is for arts sake.
Minoan Art
• Many types:
Early Minoan I/II 2500 BCSnake Goddess 1600 BC
Spectators Fresco, Knossos, 1450 BC
Gold Ring, 2000 BC
Minoan Art
– Minoan art frequently involved trivial details of everyday life: cat stalking prey, octopus, sporting events rather than battles or political events.
– This is art done out of interest in everyday life.– Most depictions of humans represent them
them in the less meaningful events of life: walking, carrying a vase, etc.
Minoan Art• Everyday Life:
Water Bearers, Knossos, 1400 BC
The Fisherman, Akrotiri, 1500 BC
Minoan Art
– This is the great Minoan legacy: producing art for pleasure. Art for arts sake. This led to a revolution in Greek art later on.
– Minoan artist catches his subjects in the midst of action.
Minoan Art
• Subjects in action:The Boxers:
Akrotiri, 1600 BC
The Dolphins, Palace of Knossos, 1600 BC
Minoan Art
• History:– Not much survives from the early Minoan period
• First palaces built
– Much art from the Middle Minoan period (1900-1700 BC).
– Art reached its zenith during the late Minoan period
– But also declined during the late Minoan period.
Minoan Art
• POTTERY:– Proto-palatial (middle Minoan) 2000-1600:
introduction of potters wheel. Pottery now had thin walls and symmetrical shapes.
Minoan Art
• Chronology of Pottery:– Monochrome neolithic wares: until EM period.– Early Minoan Period: pottery decorated with
dark paint on light clay and then the opposite.– Middle Minoan: white-yellowish paint put over
a dark painted background.– Late Minoan: dark painting on light with
naturalistic decoration.
Minoan Art
• Pottery: EM: 2500-2000 BC
Early Minoan I/II 2500 BC
Vasiliki Ware (EM) 2300-2000 BC
Beak Spouted Cup 2200-2000 BC
Minoan Art
• Pottery: MM: Kamares Style 1800’s BC
Beaker Jug
Cup Kamares Style
Crater
Minoan Art
• Kamares-ware: Named after the cave they were found in. Characteristic of this time. Thin walls, swollen curves, elegant spouts and decorations. Very popular in Crete, Egypt and Syria.
– Notice: evidence of contact
Minoan Art
• Pottery: LM: 1500’s BC
Glaze covered Vase 3 Handled AmphoraOctopus Vase: Marine Style: Octopus Vase
Minoan Art• Pottery: Stone Vessels: Hagia Triada, Crete.
Harvester Vase, 1500 BC (Black Steatite)– Notice: musical instrument is a “Sistrum”-
Egyptian
Minoan Art
• PAINTING:– Best known for its focus on nature.– Their paintings show a vitality and love of life
through their subjects and use of bright colors.– Painting goes back to the Pre-Palace period:
wall paintings.
Minoan Art
• Fresco Painting: Painting on wet plaster.– Two types of Fresco:
• Nature scenes: consist of borders that consist of odd shapes that are colored. Floors may also have been painted in Fresco style.
• Court and religious life. Large number are Bull Leaping scenes. These are the most famous.
Minoan Art
• Painting: nature:
The Birds: Palace Knossos, 1500 BC
Blue Bird: Knossos, 1500 BC
The Dolphins: Palace, 1500 BC
Minoan Art
• Bull Leapers:
Bull Leaping
Knossos and other locals, 1500’s
Minoan ArtOne possible interpretation of Bull Leaping fresco.
From the art you have seen, what is a problem associated with this interpretation?
Minoan Art
• Painting:– Style: Egyptian Influence
• Men shown with red skin.• Women shown with white
skin.• Egyptian side view with
frontal eye.
– Style: Uniquely Minoan• Small waists• Fluidity• Elasticity, spontaneity,
fluid motion• Bright colors.
Minoan Art
• Painting: women and men
La Parisienne
Dancing Woman
Fisherman
Spectators by a Shrine
Minoan Art
• Men and Women:
The Ladies: Knossos, 1400 BCFeather Prince, Palace, 1550 BC
Minoan Art
Different Female Faces
“No generics here!
Minoan Art
– Differences: • Egyptians used dry fresco method.• Minoans used true “wet fresco” method. Painting on
wet plaster allowed the the pigments of metal and mineral oxides to bind well to the walls. It required quick execution. The nature of this technique allowed for spontaneity and improvisation.
– Since the painter had to work in a quick time frame, the brush strokes were very fluid and translated into gracefulness of art.
Minoan Art• Style: The figures in Minoan
frescoes are depicted in natural poses of free movement that reflect the rigors of the activities they are engaged in.
Sarcophagus Lid, 1300’s BC
La Parisienne
Minoan Art
• Sculpture:– Very little sculpture of Minoan Crete has
survived.– Most of it not monumental but small articles
dedicated to kings and gods.– Best example: Snake Goddess. Long flowing
dress to ground, arms outstretched holding snakes. Probably a goddess. Typical Minoan woman attire.
Minoan Art
• Sculpture
Snake Goddess: Various locations1600 BC
Bull Leaper: Crete, 1500?
Minoan boat 1700-1650 BC
Minoan Art
• Metal work:– Exquisite metal works were created in ancient Crete
with gold and copper imported from abroad.
– Several techniques employed: lost wax technique, embossing, gilding, faience (granulation), nielo.
– Faience: tiny beads of gold adhered to the surface of cast jewelry with a special low heat solder alloy.
– Gilding: gold leafing (thin sheets of hammered gold foil).
Minoan Art
• Metal work:
Gold Pendent
Crouching Lion: Gold
Gold Ring: Goddess and Griffin
Gold ring with a depiction of a bull-jumping scene
