09/09/2014

1

Greek Art

Sculpture and PaintingSt. Lawrence, 9/9/2014

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Wednesday, September 05, 2012 Course Outline

A brief overview of Ancient Greece

Minoan art

Mycenaean art

Greek painting

Greek sculpture

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Key Notions

-Black figure/red figure-Contrapposto-Ex-voto-Foreshortening-Megaron-Tholos

09/09/2014

2

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Greece and Region

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Minoan(2000-1400 BCE)

Palace

Mural paintings

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Plan of Knossos

Source: 6 Minoan Mycenaean

09/09/2014

3

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Reconstruction of Knossos, and Ruins

Source: 8 Minoan Mycenaean

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Bull Games, Knossos, c. 1500 BCE, Fresco, 81,3 cm high, Archaeological Museum, Herakleion

Source: 2 Minoan Mycenaean

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

The Legend of the Minotaur

Pasiphae with the Minotaur. Image from a drinking cup, c. 340–320 BCE

Michael Ayrton, Minotaur, 1969, Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Theseus Killing the MinotaurAthenian, c. 550 BCE

Source: 10 Minoan Mycenaean

09/09/2014

4

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Dolphins, Queen’s quarters, Knossus, c. 1450 BCE, Fresco, Ancient Art and Architecture Collection, Middlesex

Source: 2 Minoan Mycenaean

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Hall of the Double AxesPalace of Minos, Knossos, Crete, c. 1500 BCE

Source: 2 Minoan Mycenaean

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Octopus FlaskPalaikastro, c. 1500 BCE, 25,4 cm h, Archaeological Museum, Herakleion

Source: 3 Minoan Mycenaean

09/09/2014

5

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Bull’s-head RhytonKnossos, c. 1550-1450 BCE, Shell, rock crystal, and red jasper (gilt-wood horns are restorations), 30.5 cm h, Archaeological Museum, Herakleion

Source: 3 Minoan Mycenaean

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Earth-Goddesswith SnakesKnossos, c. 1600 BCE, Faïence (glazed clay), 29,2 cm h, Archaeological Museum, Herakleion

Source: 2 Minoan Mycenaean

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Mycenaean(1600-1200 BCE)

Palace and Megaron

Cyclopean ramparts

Funerary art

09/09/2014

6

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Plan of Tiryns; Center of MycenaenPalace, Megaron

Source: 6 & 7 Minoan Mycenaean

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Lion GateMycenae, c. 1300 BCE, Limestone, Relief, 289,6 cm high

Source: 11 & 2 Minoan Mycenaean

Cyclops from Sinbad movie

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae, c. 1300, 14,48 m diameter, 13,26 m high

Source: 6 Minoan Mycenaean

09/09/2014

7

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Funerary Mask of Agamemnon, c. 1500 BCE, Gold, 30 cm high , National Archaeological Museum, Athens

Source: 7

Minoan Mycenaean

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Vaphio Cups, Mycenae, c. 1500 BCE, Gold with repoussédecoration, 8,9 cm high, National Museum, Athens

Source: 5 Minoan Mycenaean

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Dagger blade with decoration of a lion hunt, Mycenae, c 1550 BCE, National Museum, Athens

Source: 5 Minoan Mycenaean

09/09/2014

8

Greek Painting

Or, painting pottery

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Amphora, Athens, c. 750 BCE, 150 cm high, National Museum, Athens

Geometric ceramic

-Funerary material (ex-votos)-Imposing forms, better compositions, funerary rituals

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

09/09/2014

9

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Kidnapping scene, Geometric Bowl, Athens, c. 730-720 BCE, British Museum, London

Geometric ceramic

-Funerary material (ex-votos)-Imposing forms, better compositions, funerary rituals-Human form (mythology)

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Exekias, Suicide of Ajax, Amphore, 54 cm high, c. 540-530 BCE, Musée du château, Boulogne-sur-mer

Ceramic

Athens-Black figure ceramic

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Andokides Painter, Farming Scene, Bilingual Amphora, Detail

Ceramic

Athens-Black figure ceramic-Passage from black to red figure ceramic (bilingual vase)

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

09/09/2014

10

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Cyclops Painter, Odysseus and companions, Vase, c. 420-410, 47 cm high, British Museum, London

Ceramic

-Red figure ceramic-Better use of all available space-More motion-Representation in space

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

Greek Sculpture

Or the pursuit of realism

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Centaur, Lefkandi, c. 900 BCE, 36 cm high, Archaeological Museum, Chalcis

Geometric ceramic

-Funerary material (ex-votos)-Portable

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

09/09/2014

11

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Kouros, c. 590-580, 184 cm high, Metropolitain, New York

SculptureIn the round

Kouros-Interpretation of male body ; divinity or mortal hero-Canon: man standing, immobile, naked, arms close to the sides, fists against the thighs; frontal; perfect symmetry left/right, except leg that is slightly advanced

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Kore, Crete, c. 650-625, 75 cm high, Louvre, Paris

SculptureIn the round

Kore-Young woman-Canon: standing; legs together, dressed, detailed clothing, headdress painted; position of the hands varies (against breast, presenting an offering, holding clothing)

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Apollo, Temple of Zeus, West Pediment, Olympia, c. 460 BCE, 315 cm, Archaeological Museum, Olympia

Architectural sculpture

Severe style-Calm expression-Lacking in emotion-Severity in posture (even if there is movement)

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

09/09/2014

12

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Nike ajusting sandal, Acropolis, c, 409-406 BCE, 106 cm high, Acropolis Museum, Athens

Relief Sculpture

Greek classicism-Nudity and drapery, flexible feeling, wet to see the body -Musculature is mastered (and seen)-Less ‘religious’ (public figures, ordinary life and humanized divinities)-Balanced presentation

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Warrior, Riace, c. 450 BCE, National Museum, Reggio di Calabria

Sculpture ‘in the round’

Bronze-Movement is mastered (in contrapposto - hips one way, shoulders another)-Mastery of space-Loss of frontal style-Loss of symmetry

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Melos Aphrodite, c. 130-120, 202 cm high, Louvre, Paris

Sculpture

Movement in classical style-Sinuosity in movement -Body and drapery are delicately rendered

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

09/09/2014

13

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Chrysippus, Old Man, Louvre, Paris

Sculpture

More mortals-Canon: social realism and naturalism-Children-Genre style-Portraits-Baroque realism-Old age

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Lysippus (copy), Farnese Hercules, Marble, 317 cm, Rome, National Archaeological Museum, Naples

Sculpture

More mortals-Canon: social realism and naturalism-Children-Genre style-Portraits-Baroque realism-Old age-Colossal

Source: 7 Geometric Archaic Classical Hellenistic

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Suggested readings

-Gombrich, The Story of Art, p. 63-91-Cleaver, Art, an Introduction, p. 84-113-Fiero, The Humanistic Tradition, vol. 1. p. 67-128-Kleiner, Gardner’s Art through the Ages, p. 105-169

09/09/2014

14

Greek S & P, St. Lawrence, 09/09/2014, Beaudoin

Bibliography and Sources

1. Brommer, Discovering Art History2. Fiero, The Humanistic Tradition, vol. 1 3. Kleiner, Gardner’s Art through the Ages4. Gombrich, The Story of Art5. Rogers, Art, a World History6. Cleaver, Art, an Introduction7. University Laval Course Notes8. www.ile-de-crete.com9. www.youtube.com10. www.wikipedia.com11. http://dcairns.wordpress.com