Greece passed into a dark age- evidence of invaders from the north-over time they forgotwriting- reading -building techniques- and art – this lasted from 1200-900 BCE
During the dark time the stories of gods and goddesses- the epic battles of man vs gods- mighty deeds- and of HEROES were passed down orally-
Around 800 BCE Homer collected them into 2 epic poems
Iliad and Odyssey
Individualsbattle against all odds -to become famous and therefore immortal
note*
Unlike Egypt-immortality comes to you only through fame- having your name and your deeds remembered– the next life is un-inviting–a land of shadows. They practice simple death rituals otherwise you might wander forever but no one looked forward to death. Only a few very heroic figures might join the gods for eternity
Humanity matters- HUMANISM ‘Man is the measure of all things’
Q/- what does this mean?
Their gods act very human– they appear in human form– lie, cheat, murder and meddle in human life and they live close by in MountOlympus
they differ only by having super human strength- ‘they made their gods as men’
while men have the potential to become heroic - and their men into gods’
Q/ How are Greek gods different from Egyptian gods?
They develop anidea –that perfection is something to work towards-working to build a sound mind and body- a duty to be the best you can.
This search for perfection is the basis of their art and architecture- it evolves through trial and error and observation
**The human body is their main subject - a god-like beautiful male nude-
POLITICS:
Polis- small city states- each had its own laws – customs- foreign policy
Q/ Why did they develop so differently from Egypt? compare maps
They were divided by the sea into many islands and on the mainland by rough terrain and mountains. They seldom united for a common cause – instead there was constant competition or brutal civil wars. Defeat meant obliteration and slavery.
Unlike Egypt they were not safely isolated- they could be approached easily by the sea and were often attacked.
They had no central power -they saw themselves first as Athenians or Corinthans or Ionians –after this they saw themselves as Hellenes[Greeks]but they considered themselves culturally superior to all other nations[barbarians]
Today Greeks are held up as the creators of democracy but their democracy was limited – their society was built by slavery –women were excluded[shrouded in the home]-- power was held by a few well born white males.
Greek art evolves over time:
Note: there are NO Greek paintings- all lost – through wars, earthquakes
all we know about painting are from their vases /jars of various shapes
1. 8-700 BCE- The GEOMETRIC period[the end of dark ages and isolation]
--time when Homer wrote his epics- became a measure of how to live a good life
--time of first Olympic games – competition- individual success-
How they measure time- by Olympiads
Geometric Painting-first indications of their ability to paint- 2 D revival of culture
These type of vase decorations are found allover Greece Italy and Near east- Greeks were seamen- traders
Dipylon vase- found in the Dipylon cemetary- - 4-5’ tall most have broken bottoms for offerings to flow through to earth below- nothing of value buried with the body- unlike Egypt
Rituals were commemorative -not to satisfy the needs of the deceased
Geometric repetitive shapes—harmonious- follows and enhances the shape
love of the body it will be the main motif
storytelling-narrative art story telling of the burial- here is a worthy man- mourned by many- having a splendid funeral no interest in an afterlife-the presentmatters
Shows the body, the mourners, dramatic pulling of their hair-very simple like Neolithic
emphasis on living- lively-men are NUDE and women are clothed – horses and chariots-a procession
little interest in depth except by overlapping of horses and shields-
twisted perspective flat- frontal eye
breasts seem to come out of armpits- men’s penis out of their thighs
Geometric sculpture- at this time they made small bronze figure
Herakles & centaur- a hero from Homer’s story and a creature that only exists inGreek stories.
No buildings left from this period
2. Orientalizing-725-650 BCE transition
Trade- seafaring- influenced by the near east- Mesopotamia- and Egypt
Evidence of Greek settlers in Egypt
Painting-Vases:
Vase covered with lions- panthers sphinxes- none exist in Greece
- figures are larger
-Less geometric decoration- - used on the edges-
-bright colors- black red
Sculpture--is still small- bronzes such as little male- is he a god or humanMantiklos Apollo nude- 8’
More detail- body and hair-a votive offering to Apollo
Signed on the thigh……”.Mentiklos dedicated me as a tithe to… you Apollo .might give some pleasing favor in return”
It held a weapon- inlaid eyes- probably hole in head to attach a helmut
650 BCE—often called theLady of Auxerre
First stone figure we have [found in France-Auxerre] what does she represent? Wears a cape- skirt- painted bright colors—patterned- bulky- blocklike – wiglike hair-gesture of prayer--Was she for a temple? 2 ½ feet tall
3. 650-450 BCE Archaic
the city states grew and flourished Athens began to move to the forefront in art commerce and politics and culture. We know of a famous poetess Sappho—A slave Aesop was composing the animal fables -artists competed for lucrative commissions from city councils and wealthy individualswho sponsored new temples shrines and government buildings.Large scale sculpture and fine ceramics were made.Potters and vase painters began to sign their work- COMPETITION and INDIVIDUALISM was encouraged
Archaic painting- vases
Art historian Jansen states that Archaic was the great age of vase paintings- the best artists had the same prestige as other art forms- until 450 when wall paintings become more important. These were not mass produced- the painters were known for their style- signed- in one case there are 200 vases from one artist--- can see his style evolve.
They were not meant for everyday-[undecorated for that]-Used for special occasions- one- symposiums- drinking parties for man-a master of ceremonies would be in the center with a large decorated vessel- hand out wine to guests reclining on couches- music- poetry storytelling word games and often ending in sexual liaisons-both homo and hetero-erotic- scenes often also seen on the cups they drank from--Sometime serious debate-philosophy
-First--they are line drawings colored in
Black figures- silhouettes with details scratched in- lace like details
Francois vase- 200 figures on registers signed by the painter and potter
Centaurs and humans – more realistic but still composite view
Exekias- the master of Black figure-
Ajax and Achilles- play chess between battles at Troy
Pointy – kneecaps- muscles—details to animate- follows the shape-
A number of vases by him- to show his style- shiny top and bottom to isolate the action- like a stage- one story
Painting progresses—to red figure- the artist left the clay body and painted around it –allows for more details- more lively- more correct anatomy –the frontal eye will be the last thing to change.
Euphronios-master of red figure painting
Herakles Wrestling—the moment before the giant is defeated- still powerful- head to head- most dramatic- contrast of hair – more 3d- as observed- part of body is now hidden as in nature –he experiments with foreshortening
Competition pushes artists to improve to learn more.
His rivals try to outdo him.
One shows 3 tipsy men- each is a study of movement and capturing the figure froma new twisted angle- foreshortening
Signed it and added that he had painted “something that Euphronios had never done”
Another red figure artist created the first female nude- a servant girl- bathing- a genre scene probably for a private customer to enjoy—but the painter is showing a three quarter view-this is another innovation
Archaic Sculpture
Freestanding Sculpture[there is also carved freize- relief sculptures on buildings]
There is a lot of original Archaic sculpture- later occupiers preferred the period that are more realistic- to plunder- to copy
Kore [maiden in her prime
Kouros youth-
votive figures for graves or in temples
not portraits- rep the IDEAL of youth - vitality –—influenced by EGYPT
differs-- nude vs clothed
Kouros
Clenched fists- frontal- symmetrical - Blocklike- but stepping forward- open form-[broken ankles- why?]- outstretched arms gone that held an offering
PAINTED
Calf Bearer- soon more real- shows beard- older man- clothed as would be appropriate –seen but also nude – to fit the ideal- never happen in reality
Archaic Smile- to animate but the face doesn’t move
30 years later….
A man called Kroisos died and this kouros marked his grave-
-is rounder- more anatomically correct- strong- still an ideal not a portrait still a Kouros but becoming more godlike painted- remains- encaustic
text his sister in time and style is – Peplos Kore
Women too become increasingly realistic
- changing from a solid column like body-- archaic smile- interest in clothing- hair -- slowly reveal the sense of a body beneath-
she holds out her hand the equivalent progression as the male striding forward- risky- separate- lost
4. Early Classical- a break from the Archaic- a ‘shift’
Kritios boy- 480 BC- serene- archaic smile is gone- but the shift is real-
Eyes would have been set with glass or painted clay
Body would be painted
Weight moves –as he does- CONTRAPPOSTO-
Date from the time when the Persians sack Athens – found in the rubble that was used to rebuild the area- as were other Archaic statues
BRONZE:
REMEMBER the sculptors had used bronze very early- in the Geometric and Orientalizing period- small
Now have discovered the use of lost wax technique for large bronze statues
Very costly---~ hollow casting—often done in pieces
How they did it
- made a full size clay model
- made a mold-cover it with a thin coating of clay which once dry is removed carefully in sections
- it is reassembled and inside is covered with a layer of wax
- the clay mold parts are carefully removed and left with a hollow wax model which is smoothed – details can be added
- the wax model is covered again with clay outside and liquid clay is poured inside the hollow wax to create a solid core
- pins are pushed into the clay cover and connected to the inner core
- the wax is melted out- 1000 degrees
- once it is completely gone liquid bronze-- 2000 degrees is poured into the space left behind
- once it is cool the clay shell is broken away
- the pieces can be fitted together- solder eyes were inlaid- eyelashes and teeth added and spears etc placed in the hands
Bronze is strong- light- the figure can be off balance
- because it is first made in clay it can be very detailed –every vein and muscle-
-these bronze figures were prized by later cultures –especially by the Romans- they had thousands of copies made- -when bronze was too expensive they made cheaper marble copies- needed a tree trunk to hold them up- many copies remain- few originals-
Q/ what does it mean to say ‘ through Rome we know Greece’ ?
3(b) early classical-SEVERE STYLE---- dignity- fierce- pride in the defeat of the Persians
Charioteer- a whole team of horses and the charioteer- cast in pieces- copper for lips ivory teeth – to give it life
Riace warriors- Q/ where were they found?
Zeus --- pivotson tip toe arms extended- impossible in marble
Classical painting Early period to High period--
vase painting is being surpassed by wall painters- large murals that we know about from stories[and through Rome]
one painter shows his work to another who asks him to draw aside the curtain so he can see it fully- -- the curtain is painted!!!
Another story tells of a painting of fruit so real that birds came and peckedon the grapes
In trying to compete with them the classical vases lose- they lose their sense of the shape of the vase- or fill it so full it feels squashed- compared to the Archaic and earlier Classical
**They have mastered foreshortening- and the correct eye -a ¾ view
*White vases- for oil for gravesites
The most Classical in feel- calm- restrained- are funeral vases- white ground that is very perishable-fragile- not needed for long
line drawings that look very modern – Classical nose - no bridge
5.High Classical-- 450 – lasts less than 50 years
Sculpture-
they create the IDEAL-a ‘classic’
450 BCE Polykleitos creates his CANON—this is a copy
bronze original--- tree trunk needed for the marble copy
became THE model for the Ideal of a masculine- perfectly toned body
now called the Spearbearer
body and face—not a portrait- worked out mathematically-
the head should be 1/8 the length of the body
the width of the chest -1/4 the height
belief in math and geometry- that art could be rational- scientific-
the face is CALM-CLASSICAL no matter what is happening
body is twisted-creates a cross balance the correct balance of straight and curved
of tense and relaxed--more obvious contrapposto than the Kritios Boy
head looks slightly to right- hips twist left—S curve
6. Late Classical- 4th century
Rise of Macedonia-Phillip ll- after civil wars- Peloponnesian weakened Greek city states [Sparta had defeated Athens] – assassinated-Alexander 323- he would go on to defeat Persia- control Egypt/Alexandria after him and go as afar as India
Effects on art
High Classical/ 5th century belief in math- rationality- order and perfection
Late Classical/ 4th century- one of disillusionment – Greek thought now focused on the real world and the real individual not an ideal state with perfect people and buildings
Praxiteles- humanized his gods and goddesses- real beauty- real flesh
Doing more ‘human ‘activities- bathing or playing with a child
Aphrodite of Knidos-sensual- not cool and aloof- sensational in its time- dewy eyes his trademark- and soft edges of the mouth –
having a bath- famous for centuries
She is the model of the perfect female body- for centuries
Hermes and Dionysos
Relaxed not ‘ready for action like the Spearbearer- taller slimmer and more relaxed-- dangling a bunch of grapes for a baby- human
Appeals to the eye and our humanity- not to impress with masculinity
Not the original marble—Sandals not 4th century- probably roman
Alexander the Great- [father Philip of Macedonia]
Look at the head of Alexander- he is a romantic figure today- he had a wild horse only he could ride- passionate- killed his friend in a drunken fight
Shrewd- married daughters of his defeated enemies-He lived in the east- gave his name to several cities- Lived like an eastern prince- opulence- nothing much is left- but the mosaics-of other Macedonian wealthy
floor mosaics – of pebbles
Signed- realism- stag hunt- shadow painting- what we call shading- use of light and shadow to model into three dimensional
Another example of what they could do in the 4th century-
no painting to show but can imagine the quality of paintings if they can do this with stones-
Battle of Issus-
8’/10’shading- twisting bodies- emotion-
The 2 leaders stare at each other- dramatic- complex
A convincing WINDOW into space that recedes
Architecture-
As well they built theatres- plays – were performed only once during sacred festivals- had a religious connection- to the gods
Theatres many have been used continuously- some have modifications and repairs but one in text it oldest and appears to be original-- is still used today- always situated on a hillside- stone seats- auditorium- there were dressing rooms for the actors-
new capital – the Corinthian-
7. Hellenistic
was the result of Alexander’s spreading of Greek culture and language- to Persia,Egypt and Turkey- it was an international mix-it was eastern- rich educated and ‘cosmopolitan’- [citizen of the world in Greek]
When Alex died the story is that when they asked him who he wanted to succeed him he said the strongest- this immediately created divisions/conflict in the empire- many eastern kings and princes-