Grecian Sculpture in ContextWhat is Beauty? What about the portrayal of beauty and the

human form in Grecian art is a reflection of Grecian culture and thinking?

Harvest Vase

The subject matter of this relief sculpture and its style differs greatly from Egyptian reliefsculptures, such as the one below.

How would you describe each style? What does the subject matter and style of the Harvest Vase tell us about how Minoan Culture differed from other ancient cultures?

Ancient Greece• Cultural Value of the Greeks is humanistic: “MAN IS THE MEASURE OF ALL

THINGS”• This worldview lead to groundbreaking contributions in the arts, literature,

science, philosophy and politics• Made up of various regional peoples of the Aegeans, and Indio-European

– United by the Olympian Games in 776 BCE• The Greeks regarded themselves as citizens of Hellas and everyone else as

barbarians• Greek Gods differed from only in that they were immortal – they made

their Gods into humans and their humans into Gods• The perfect individual became the Greek ideal, and lead to the portrayal of

“beauty” in Greek art • For the Greeks the mind and body were linked -A SOUND MIND A

SOUND BODY

• Slavery• Women were restricted to the home• The Symposium – a dinner party for only men and

prostitutes• Every heart sings a song, incomplete until another

heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet. – Plato

• The first recorded appearance of a deep emotional bond between adult men in ancient Greek culture was in the Illiad

ARCHAIC SCULPTURE 600 BCE - The perfect individual became the Greek ideal – The seeking of a perfect being lead to a focus

on the portrayal of “beauty” in Greek art

DESCRIBETHE STYLISTIC QUALITIES OFEACH ARTWORK

What are the facts? (F)

Artist: Unknown, TradespeoplePatron: Family of the DeceasedTitle: Kouros, from AtticaDate: 600 BCEPeriod/Style: ArchaicSize: life sizeLocation / findspot: Attica

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

Carved Marbel

SUBJECT MATTER / CONTENTYoung Boy – not a portrait but a type

How is the subject matter visually represented / presented? (FA)

Appropriated Egyptian style

Rigid, frontal and nude

Stiff arms and clenched fists

Taking a stiff foot forward – lacks movement

Liberated from the rock signifies their interest in finding a a way to convey movement – not preoccupiedA eternal afterlife like in Egypt

Patterned hair and pattern-like lines of the body

WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA)Location – Grave marker / funerary object. Patron – familyAlso served as votive offerings

What are the facts? (F)

Artist: Unknown, TradespeoplePatron: Family of the DeceasedTitle: Kroisos (Kouros Statue) Date: 600 BCEPeriod/Style: ArchaicSize: life sizeLocation / findspot: Anavysos

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

Carved Marbel

SUBJECT MATTER / CONTENTYoung Boy – not a portrait but a type

Inscribed – STAY AND MOURN AT THE TOMB OF DEAD KROISOS, WHOM ARES DESTROYED ONE DAY AS HEFOUGHT IN THE FORMEOST RANKS

WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA)Location – Grave marker / funerary object.

Patron – family

BIG IDEA – “STAY AND MOURN AT THE TOMB OF DEAD KROISOS, WHOM ARES DESTROYED ONE DAY AS HEFOUGHT IN THE FORMEOST RANKS”

WHAT MEANING DOES THE INSCRIPTIONLEND THE STATUE THAT IS MISSINGFROM THE OTHER?

CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHER ARTWORKSTHAT ARE HEROICALLY INSCRIBED?

Rigid, frontal and nude

Stiff arms and clenched fists

Taking a stiff foot forward – lacks movement

Liberated from the rock signifies their interest in finding a a way to convey movement – not preoccupiedWith an eternal afterlife like in Egypt

Patterned hair and pattern-like lines of the body are replacedWith a sense of roundness or flesh, naturalistic, youthful

How is the subject matter visually represented / presented? (FA)

MEANING / FUNCTION

• COMMEMORATION – Why is an idealized figure favored over a heroic portrait

• Idealizes the dead hero through the portrayal of the body

• - The perfect individual became the Greek ideal = The portrayal of “beauty” in Greek art

Classical Period

• Rational• Idealized• “Perfect”• Detached• Self Contained• Unemotional• Balanced• Unified, Ordered and Calm

What are the facts? (F)

Artist: PolykleitosPatron: NATitle: Spear Bearer Date: 450 BCEPeriod/Style: ClassicalSize: l6’ 11”Location / findspot: Pompeii, Italy (reproduction)

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

Carved Marbel

SUBJECT MATTER

Warrior

LOOK AT AND DESCRIBE THE STYLE OF THIS ARTWORK

IN WHAT WAYS IS ITRationalIdealized“Perfect”DetachedSelf ContainedUnemotionalBalancedUnified, Ordered and Calm

WHY AND HOW WAS HE CREATED• NUDE – not about warfare• About the perfection of human form• Reflects the idea that humans are not perfect but the body is• Canon of proportion is used to determine the perfect

proportions of the body – mathematical proportion (Pythagoras geometry)

• Stands in calm, balanced and harmonious contrapposto• S-curve of the stance makes him feel fully alive in our world –

he exists in our world as an ideal mirror of rational detachment• He is the result of the power and rationality of the human

mind – not a result of religious belief or practice

Homework

• Read the spark notes on Plato’s The Symposium• What are the types of love presented in The

Symposium• What link(s) can you make between the types

of love that are discussed in The Symposium, the Greeks’` idea of beauty, and the subject matter, visual qualities and ideas behind Classical Greek Sculpture?