Greek and Roman Art

•Aegean Art 1600 -1100 BC: Minoan Art from Crete

Mycenaen Art from Mainland Greece

• Greek Art:Archaic Period 600 - 480 BCClassic Period 480 - 323 BC

Hellenistic Period 323 - 150 BC

• Roman Art:500 BC - 310 AD

The Aegean Sea Region

While the civilizations in Egypt and Mesopotamia were flourishing, two distinct cultures developed along the Aegean Sea. One was on the island of Crete and is termed Minoan.

The other was on the mainland of Greece at the city of Mycenae. They preceded Greek culture.

Map of Europe

Minoans were the richest of the Aegean civilizations. Bounded by the sea, they created a luxurious, relaxed way of life. Their most important palace center was a huge complex at Knossos, called the Palace of Minos.

Palace of Minos at Knossos 1600 - 1400BCIt contained many rooms, running water, a sewage system, theater, storerooms, terraces, and was decorated by frescoes. Frescoes are paintings made directly into wet plaster on the walls of buildings. Rather than sitting on top of the wall’s surface, the paint pigment becomes part of the wall itself.

Walls of the Palace of Minos were decorated by frescoes.

Minoan culture and art was greatly

influenced by living near the sea.

Minoan frescoes were characterized

by lightness and freely shaped

forms. The forms had a rhythmic

quality inspired by the sea.

Minoan Fresco Painting

Elaborate frescoes painted into the plaster walls show many aspects of Cretan life. Some depict processions and ceremonies.

Images from nature appear, including birds and sea creatures such as dolphins.

Minoan Fresco Painting

Minoan Fresco Painting

Minoan Fresco Painting

Minoan SculptureSculpture was small, and

like the frescoes, probably decorated the

living quarters of merchant rulers.

The Snake Goddess, carved from ivory and decorated with gold, is less than one foot tall.

c.1550 BC

Minoan Pottery Pottery was often

decorated with designs of plant and animal life. Here the octopus shape adheres to the form of the vase in a manner which unites the 3-

dimensional object with a flat design.

Minoan Pottery Pottery was often

decorated with designs of plant and

animal life.

Minoan Pottery

Pottery was often

decorated with designs of plant and animal life.

Minoan Pottery Pottery

was often decorated

with designs of plant and

animal life.

Mycenaean Art The outer gateway at the citadel of Mycenae

is called the Lion Gate, c.1250 BC.

It is topped by a huge triangular-shaped, carved stone slab.

Depicted on the stone are two majestic

standing lions. The blocks are cut to fit exactly together.

Little is known of Mycenaean culture,

which ended abruptly around 1100 BC when the Dorians invaded

from the north.

Mycenaean Sculpture The Vaphio Cups from a grave in Laconia are some of the most famous gold pieces found in Mycenae.

The lively reliefs illustrate several ways people captured bulls.

Mycenaean Sculpture Funeral Mask1500 BC, Gold,

12”

Greek Art:Archaic Period 600 - 480 BCClassic Period 480 - 323 BC

Hellenistic Period 323 - 150 BC

Kouros Youth

600 BCThis life-size nude

represents either the god Apollo or an ideal athlete. Figures were stylized and did not

represent real people. They face front, with arms held stiffly at their sides. This

marble statue is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in

NYC.

Kritios Boy/480 BCThe development of Greek art is easily seen in its sculpture. Early Greek figures were stylized; this somewhat later figure shows a

change towards a more naturalistic approach. The first important point

is that the boy really stands; his back leg is not bound to the stone

block for balance. Openings are seen between the arms and sides.

Notice how the right hip drops down and inward. The knee of the foward

leg is lower than the other knee. The body weight rests mainly on the left leg, forming a slight S-curve. This

pose is called contrapposto.

Instead of a stiff and stylized pose, this relaxed gesture helps the figure

come to life for the viewer.

Charioteer of Delphi

Bronze, 470 BCThis is typical of the

changes which took place during the Greek Classic Period — the figure is a specific individual, and

the pose is more natural. It is cast in bronze. Few

bronze sculptures survived over the ages — most were lost or melted

down later for use in making weapons and

ammunition.

Charioteer of Delphi

Bronze, 470 BCThe charioteer was

originally polished, its eyes made of glass paste,its lips and

eyelashes of copper. In most later bronzes these features are now missing, and dark holes remain for the lost eyes. The cloth folds, muscles and facial features are naturalistic. The calm look symbolized

a classical balance of emotion, personality and

physical ability.

Three Goddesses, 435 BC, MarbleSome sculptures were designed to fit exactly into the pediment, the flat triangular area at each end of the Parthenon. The drapery seen in this sculpture was rendered in such a convincing manner that it appears to cling to the draped figures. The folds create visual movement, leading

the viewer’s eye through the piece.

The ParthenonAthenians decorated the most famous building in their city, the Parthenon with an ambitious sculptural undertaking. Both the

east and west ends of the building were filled with statues that were larger than life. A continuous frieze

(a sculpted band) ran for 525 feet around the top of the wall of the cella.

The ParthenonThe parade of riders is part of a relief that continues (as a frieze) around

the entire inner wall of the Parthenon. This is a detail of the larger piece.

432 BC, marble, 42” tall.

The ParthenonThe parade of riders is part of a relief that continues (as a frieze) around the entire inner wall of the Parthenon. This is a detail of the larger piece.

432 BC, marble, 42” tall.

The Partheno

nOuter frieze

The ParthenonEastern frieze

The Dying Gaul, c. 230-220 BCThis is a Roman marble copy of a Greek bronze. It is life-size and shows the struggle of a wounded man about to die. The figure is depicted as a real person with genuine feelings, not

as an idealized warrior hero.

The Dying Gaul, c. 230-220 BCThis is a Roman marble copy of a Greek bronze. It is life-size and shows the struggle of a wounded man about to die. The figure is depicted as a real person with genuine feelings, not

as an idealized warrior hero.

Nike of Samothrace c. 190 BC

Marble, 8’ tallOne of the greatest

Hellenistic sculptures: it is the symbol of

Winged Victory. The force of the wind whips the drapery into lively folds which follow the curves of anatomy.

The space around the female figure is

activated and is a dynamic part of the

composition.

Old Market Woman c. 2 BC

Marble, 50” tall

The artist’s interest is in

the realistic, pained portrayal of a tired and

burdened woman. It is not about

idealized beauty.

Painting on VasesBlack-figured Amphora, c.

530 BC

An amphora is a large storage jar with two handles

Early vases of the Archaic period are of red clay, with

black figures and decorations painted on them. These

illustrate events which may be real or mythical.

Later period vases feature white figures on black

backgrounds.

Painting on VasesBlack-figured Amphora, c.

530 BC

An amphora is a large storage jar with two handles

Early vases of the Archaic period are of red clay and

have black figures and decorations painted on them. These illustrate events which

may be real or mythical.

Later period vases feature white figures on black

backgrounds.

Greek Painting on Vases

White-figured Hydra, c. 410 BC

A hydra is a large jug intended for carrying water

from the community fountain. The handles are on the side, and have a different shape from the ear-like handles of

the amphora.

This shows a great change in technique and visual style.

The background is now painted black, and brush lines

can be drawn freely on the red figures to show detail.

The Battle of Issus, c. 100 BC, marble mosaic, 17’ wide

This is a Roman marble-chip mosaic copy of a Greek painting originating around 315 BC. Only four colors—red, yellow, white and black—are used in the mosaic. The anatomy is very accurate, as is

the lighting and overlapping placement of objects in space.

Greek ArchitectureOver time, Greek structures evolved from having a heavy

appearance to a light and airy feel. Architecture was focused around temples where ceremonies were held. The Greeks were very concerned with harmony and proportion. The Acropolis in

Athens contains several buildings in the later style.

ArchitectureDoric Order:

Heavy, sturdy columns with no base

Ionic Order:Classical style with slender columns,

fluted shafts, fancy scrolls at top

Corinthian Order:Classical style

featuring tall, slender columns topped by

fancy capitals decorated with plant

leaves.

Architecture

Corinthian Order

Architecture

Doric Order

Greek ArchitectureDoric Order

CaryatidA support or column in the form of a human figure, usually

female.