Ancient Greek Art – Summary

Greek art has set a benchmark for Western civilization that has endured to this day. The ancient Greek models are regarded as classics and canons sculptural and architectural styles have been recreated again and again throughout the history of the West. Art and architecture developed in Greece and its colonies between 1100 BC and the first century BC although it had its origin in the Aegean civilization, its subsequent development has become one of the most influential artistic periods of culture. Greek art is characterized by naturalistic representation of the human figure, not only in the formal aspect, but also the expressive intent of the movement and emotions.

The human body, both in the representations of gods in human beings, thus became the fundamental motive of Greek art, associated myths, literature and everyday life (Whitley, 2001).The Ancient Greek Art (Archaic Period) Sculpture The Greeks began to carve in stone inspired by the monumental pieces from Egypt and Mesopotamia. The sculptures in the round shared the characteristic strength and front position of Eastern models. The male and female sculptures, from about the year 575 BC, their faces reflected in the so-called archaic smile, which perhaps was used by the Greeks as a device providing the figures a distinctive human trait (Whitley, 2001). In Greek sculptures displayed accented the main features of the body and express increasingly precise knowledge of human anatomy.In some works, unlike older ones, you can see a more detailed study of the muscular and anatomical structure.

The female figures, dressed and upright, offering a wide variety of expressions, their clothes are carved and painted with the delicacy and thoroughness characteristics of sculpture from this period. The reliefs, which were developed after the sculpture in the round, usually represent figures in movement. The sculptors of the Archaic period continued melting bronze sculptures. Examples of the sixth century BC describe the muscles schematically by representing a narrow arc at the lower limit of the chest and horizontal marks (William , 1981).Lady of Auxerre Torso of Hera of Samos The three predominant types were standing naked young (kouros), the girl dressed up (kore) and the seated woman.

They all emphasize the essential characteristics of the body and express increasingly precise knowledge of human anatomy.The reason for the representation of these young people was part of such a tomb and a votive character. Some examples are the Apollo preserved primitive Metropolitan Museum in New York, Lemnos Strangford Apollo from the British Museum in London, much more work late, and the Kouros of Anavysos preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. In these works, unlike older ones, you can see a more detailed study of the muscular and anatomical structure. The female figures, dressed and upright, offering a wide variety of expressions, as can be seen in the sculptures of the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

His clothes are carved and painted with the delicacy and thoroughness characteristic of sculpture from this period (Orjan , 1990).The sculptural reliefs were carved after the free-standing sculpture in the round or represented his figures in motion. The friezes Siphnios Treasury, in the temple of Apollo at Delphi (Archaeological Museum of Delphi), showing one of the battles of the Trojan War, is one of the most outstanding examples of Middle Archaic period (c. 580 BC -535 BC) (Orjan, 1990).

Friezes Siphnios Treasury Another important sign is the pediment of the ancient temple of Athena on the Acropolis of Athens, preserved in a fragmentary state (Acropolis Museum), which represents a battle between gods and giants. Examples of the Late Archaic period (c. 535 BC-475 BC) include the sculptures of the pediments of the temple on Aegina Aphaia (now in the Glyptotek in Munich).The east pediment figures seem so full of life as athletes who described the poet Pindar. In the nineteenth century began to appreciate the artistic merit of the sculpture of the Archaic period (Martin , 1992). The sculptors of the Archaic period continued melting bronze sculptures.

Examples of the sixth century BC describe the muscles schematically by representing a narrow arc at the lower limit of the chest and horizontal marks. The sphinxes and other forms made of stone served as rosettes, helmets or tombstones.Architecture The Greeks, after learning of the stone temples of the Egyptians, began in the seventh century BC to build their own temples in stone with a unique style and specific. Limestone used in southern Italy and Sicily, the marble in the Greek islands and Asia Minor and limestone covered with marble on the continent. Later they erected their buildings, primarily in marble.

Temples were rectangular stepped on a small base (crepidoma) in an enclosure where they carried out ritual ceremonies.Small temples had a front portico of two columns (in antis), sometimes with another hall in front of it (prostyle). The larger temples, with porches in front and rear (anfipróstilos) may have a hall of six columns before each of its gates, and be completely surrounded by a peristyle (periptera). The colonnade supported a entablature, or lintel, under a pitched roof (Marilyn , 1983). Doric ColumnsIonic ColumnsTwo orders of architecture developed or types of columns, the Doric and Ionic. Doric columns, which had no bases and capitals of which consisted of a square block (Abacus) on an item in a pad round (horse), robust pieces were placed a short distance to hold the weight of the masonry.

Their heaviness was relieved by the crowned spline shaft. In triglyphs carved entablature above each column vertically, leaving metopes including oblong, square and were later were painted at the beginning and later decorated with figurative carvings. The Doric style originated in the Hellenic peninsula, but it spread everywhere. Syracuse Doric temples, Paestum, Selinonte, Acragas, Pompeii, Taranto (Taranto), Matapontum and Corcyra (modern Corfu or Kerkira) is still preserved.

Especially remarkable is the temple of Poseidon at Paestum (c. 450 BC). (John , 1998) Ionic columns, originating in Ionia (Asia Minor) and the Greek islands, are more slender, fluted closely and placed a greater distance than the Doric. Each rests on a molded based on a capital and ends with a flat pad that wraps around two scrolls on the sides. The entablature, lighter than in the Doric style, could have a continuous frieze. You can see examples of Ionic temples in Ephesus, near modern Izmir (Turkey) in Athens, the Erechtheion - and some remains of Naucratis in Egypt (Penrose, 1893).

Painting and Decorated Vessels To speak of Greek painting is necessary to refer to ceramics, since it is precisely in the decoration of vases , plates and vases, the marketing was a very productive business in ancient Greece, was where he developed the art. At first the designs were basic shapes, hence the name geometric receive this first session (ninth and eighth centuries BC) - that just stood out above the surface. Over time, these were progressively enriched to charge volume. Appeared, then, the first drawings of plants and animals, framed by guards called "meandering In a next step, already in the period archaic (seventh and sixth centuries BC) included the human figure, a graphic very slim Amid the naturalistic trends, it became more important in the service of the representations mythological.

The scenes were arranged in parallel horizontal stripes that allow reading by turning the piece of pottery. With the replacement of the punch by the brush paths became more accurate and detailed. The painted ceramics begin to experience a notable decline in the classical (IV and V centuries BC) to emerge victorious in the period Hellenistic (third century), completely renovated, full of color and richly decorated (Beazley, 1956).In the Middle Archaic period, Athens Mediterranean market saturated ceramic objects. The Athenian vases have appeared in the Aegean islands, North Africa, Asia Minor, Italy and even France, Spain and the Crimea. The popularity of the Athenian ceramics was due to its practicality with beautiful proportions, velvety finish, black as jet, and the narrative scenes that were decorated (Anthony , 2001).

The decoration of ceramic vessels with the technique of the black figures, who came from Corinth to Athens about 625 BC, it combined with the old style Athenian, more linear and larger. The decoration was done in black slip on red clay. The details are recorded so incised and sometimes they stressed the use of red and white lighting shades, until some three-dimensionality (Aaron , 1997) From this moment, the scenes on ceramic vessels and the artists who painted them can be identified by inscriptions. Some thirty artists signed with his name decorated pieces and another hundred have been identified by his characteristic style.For the painters have been assigned late modern names depending on the location of one of his most important works, like the painter in Berlin, on the subject of one of its most representative paintings, like the painter of the boar, or the name of ceramics for which they worked, as the Amasis painter. Among the masterpieces of this period are the François vase, made the 560 BC by the potter and painter Kliti ergot (Archaeological Museum of Florence), the cup of Dionysus by Hezekiah (Glyptotek, Munich) and the work of two most outstanding artists in the black-figure technique, and Amasis Lydos (New York Metropolitan Museum) (Penrose, 1993).

Vessels decorated in red-figure technique were first made 530 BC, at the initiative of Andokides potter. The decoration was done with a painting technique in reverse, ie, the background was painted black, leaving the figures in the red clay. Details, rather than through incisions made in the clay, were drawn with a black slip rigid line, often forming a subtle relief. It also used a new color, golden brown, obtained by diluting the black varnish (Orjan , 1990).ConclusionArt developed in the Greek peninsula and its possessions after the arrival of the Dorians, followed by the Ionian and Aeolian, in 1200 BC, ending the Achaean Mycenaean civilization. Implanted an art based on geometric shapes, leading to the three stages which divides the Greek art: Archaic period, from the seventh century to the year 480 BCC.

, when it comes to Medical Wars, in this, the architecture comes to creations of great perfection while the sculpture slow progress in their fight against Egyptian and looking frontal movement and naturalism.After the f Alexander's death, it created the prototype of perfection and beauty affirming the canons, and sculpture being subject to the "ethos", so do not translate outside feelings. Athens and the Peloponnese, is the cradle and the scope of the great masters. Among the highlights of Greek art building sets are supplied with balance of forms, the measurement and the basic canon of beauty, using natural materials, and mastery of the lintel structure.

This sculpture shows a constant struggle for naturalism, contained in turn, by a desire to ideal perfection. It highlighted in this activity the likes of Phidias, Polyclitus, Lisipo and Myron. Today, the painting practically has no value as a basic drawing, being important for their study the analysis of ceramics.