Ancient Greece

1
Ancient Greece Classical and Hellenic
Sculpture The Nude Dudes
New Vocab -Contrapposto -Pathos
2
Recovered from ruins of the Acropolis-differs
significantly from earlier Kourous- stands in a
realistic way- with weight shifts-no more
symmetry- faint s-curve
3

• Contrapposto- standing at ease, a balanced
  non-symmetry
• Leg that carries the weight is the engaged leg,
  the other is the free leg
• Major discovery- learning how to show the body at
  rest
• Gives a new animation to the body-archaic smile
  is no longer needed- expressions are now more
  serious
• Each muscle shows the new balance of weight in
  the Spear Bearer- even the head
• The measure of true human beauty

Spear Bearer (Roman Copy) 450-440 BC by
Polyclitus
4

• The Severe Style-
• Started with the introduction of Contrapposto
• describes sculpture between 480 and 450 BC
• Charioteer- 1st large scale Greek bronze
  sculpture- contrapposto is present despite heavy
  clothing
• Left foot is the engaged one
• Folds of clothing are much softer than archaic
  sculpture- reflect the behavior of real cloth-
  shows the pull of gravity
• Animated expression, very solemn

Charioteer, 470 BC
5

• Movement in statues--
• Could only be achieved after the invention of
  contrapposto
• Large, free-standing sculptures in motion is the
  greatest achievement of the severe style
• Poseidon- in the act of throwing trident (or
  thunderbolt)
• Pose is athletic, a gesture rather than in mid
  action- a divine action

Poseidon (Zeus?) c.460-450 BC, Bronze
6

• - condenses a sequence of motions into a single
  pose- much more complex
• Brings in era of the mature classical style
• All sculpture was effected by new freedom

Discobolus, Roman marble copy of Greek bronze c.
450 BC by Myron
7

• Carved as a pediment sculpture
• Tells the story of Niobid who bragged about her
  children to Apollo and Artemis- the Gods killed
  her children and shot an arrow in her back
• The drapery serves as a dramatic device- shows
  the violence in her pose
• Purpose was to show a beautiful female body in
  strenuous action
• Unites suffering and motion

Dying Niobid, c.450-440 BC
8
Pathos- suffering conveyed with nobility and
restraint- meant to touch us rather than horrify
us
Compare
9
Three Goddesses, east pediment, 438-432
Also fits into pediment, drapery adds to ease and
spaciousness of the sculpture Architectural
sculpture is clearly moving away from the
confines of the pediment
10
Characterized by great sense of rhythm
Horsemen, west frieze of Parthenon c. 440 BC
Phidian Style- Phidian was the chief overseer of
artistic enterprises sponsored bu Pericles-
Parthenon sculpture fits under this category, but
many different artisans worked on them
11

• Why is she taking off her shoes???
• Rhythm and grace in an awkward position
• Figure is strongly detached from background
• Garment makes her look wet

Nike, balustrade of Temple of Athena Nike,
410-407 BC
12

• Pre-Hellenic, 4th Century Sculpture--400-100 BC
• The period after the Peloponnesian War and before
  the rise of Alexander the Great

• From Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, funerary
  monument
• structure probably derived from Egyptian idea-
  very un-Greek
• Scopas- recognizable style
• Of the Parthenon tradition, but the physical
  violence depicted is very un-Classical

Scopas, Battle of the Greeks and Amazons, east
frieze Mausoleum, 359-351 BC
13

• 1st completely nude figure of Aphrodite
• Statue became a synonym for absolute beauty

Cnidian Aphrodite (Roman copy) 300 BC Done by
Praxiteles
14

• Sense of complete relaxation
• S-curve of body
• Faint smile
• Probably Praxiteles greatest accomplishment

Hermes, by Praxiteles, c. 300-320 BC
15

• Lysippus- another great name in 4th c. sculpture
• New sense of proportion- more slender body,
  smaller head
• Shows athlete scraping himself with a
  scraper-common motif
• Both arms are horizontally extended, diagonal
  line of the free leg, unruly hair- freedom of
  3-dimensional movement

Apoxomenos (Scraper)Roman copy of a Greek bronze,
c. 330 by Lysippus
16

• Hellenistic Sculpture-
• Hellenistic period defined by the spread of Greek
  culture by the conquests of Alexander the Great
• Sculpture began to be produced in far reaches of
  the empire
• Characterized by action, pathos, movement

17
Dying Gaul, Roman copy of a Greek bronze, 230-220
BC

• Commemorates defeat of the Gauls, a Celtic tribe
  that invaded Asia Minor
• Shows ethnic type- facial structure and hair
  type, rope around neck
• Shares heroic nudity of Greek warriors- seen as
  worthy foes
• Has a new animal quality- very physical process
  of dying

18

• Mrs. Field says You wont ever forget this
  one!!

• Depicts a drunken satyr, asleep
• In a state of dreaming- troubled expression,
  convulsive gesture
• Get your mind out of the gutter!

Barberini Faun, Roman copy, c.220 BC
19
Frieze Detail

• Carved to a great depth-almost detached, no
  longer confined to pediment
• Depicts the battle of the gods and giants- a
  popular theme- now symbolizes specific rulers
  victories- like the Near East tradition- divine
  kingship was re-introduced with Alexander
• Dramatic force, writhing movement

20

• Shows dramatic internal and external forces- wind
  suggests that figure is air born, animates
  drapery
• NEW relationship between form and the space it
  occupies

Nike of Samothrace c.200-190 BC
21

• Found in Rome in 1506, greatly influenced
  Michelangelo
• Represented sublime tragedy to the people of the
  Renaissance

The Laocoon Group (Roman copy) 1st c. AD
22

• Produced for private ownership
• Broader range of subject matter than monumental
  sculpture
• Everyday subjects
• Same love for movement and action

Veiled Dancer c.200BC